# So Will Smith punched Chris Rock at the Oscars last night **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comedian-jokes, talk-variety-show\ **Created:** [March 28, 2022, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826 "2022-03-28T08:32:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/81 "2022-03-28T14:13:35Z")
Along with the uncensored profanity. Do a lot of kids watch this show? ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/82 "2022-03-28T14:17:17Z")
When there was a code of manners, this would be handled in a different way; Walk up to the offensive person, slowly look them over from head to toe with disgust, not saying a word, then turn around and walk away. If you must say something – address the stagehands “Could someone please open a window here?” Anyone attempts to question you about it afterwards, just keep saying “Who?”, “I don’t know that person.” ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/83 "2022-03-28T14:17:25Z")
It was censored. At least in most places it was. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/84 "2022-03-28T14:27:55Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Along with the uncensored profanity. Do a lot of kids watch this show? > [@What\_Exit](#): > > It was censored. At least in most places it was. The uncensored versions you’re seeing online are either from Australia or Japan. ABC, in the United States, censored out a good 40 seconds of audio. It was jarring at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/85 "2022-03-28T14:30:41Z")
Why did Will Smith use an open hand? Because paper beats Rock. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/86 "2022-03-28T14:31:22Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Chris knew jokes about Jada upset Will in 2016. What kind of monster mocks someone with alopecia? What’s next Chris? Mocking Parkinson tremors? > > Then Chris does it again? He got off easy with only a slap. > [@Odesio](#): > > > [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > > > I’ve seen a lot of guys hit guys for talking shit, but every single time the shit-talker was someone smaller than the hitter. > > When I was younger, I saw a few smaller guys talk a lot of shit confident that they would be protected by social conventions against violence. And for the most part it worked, because in the social circles I run in people want to avoid jail time and criminal records. And even the one time social conventions failed the little guy didn’t actually result in violence. The larger male told the obnoxious smaller one that any further shit talking would result in the former bouncing the latter’s head off the walls. The shit talking stopped. Chris Rock was a performer doing his job. He wasn’t some random person verbally assaulting Smith’s wife on the street. And even if he was, there is a reason society has conventions against striking people just because they say something you find offensive. There is a certain kind of person who seems to always advocate violence (at least in theory) to respond to some perceived slight or miscarriage of justice. Of course, they always operate under the assumption that they are correct and justified in their interpretation of the facts and they usually have a reasonable expectation of beating the other person up. I suspect Hollywood wants this little incident to go away as quickly as possible. I mean it creates a kind of weird dynamic, doesn’t it? Like a powerful Oscar-winning performer / director / producer can just slap the shit out of another performer in the middle of his act just because he doesn’t like what he said? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/87 "2022-03-28T14:32:51Z")
> [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > When there was a code of manners, this would be handled in a different way; > > Walk up to the offensive person, slowly look them over from head to toe with disgust, not saying a word, then turn around and walk away. Or challenge him to a duel—pistols at dawn? In the “code of manners” of some times and places, a slap or a punch would be considered an appropriate response to a man who insults one’s wife. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/88 "2022-03-28T14:33:25Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I admit, it looked fake as hell to me the first time or two I saw it, but I see no reason to disbelieve it’s real after all that happened. I am pretty much the opposite of a conspiracy theorist or “PHOTOSHOP! I CAN TELL BY THE PIXELS” kind of person. You think it might have been Andy Serkis in a Will Smith motion capture suit? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/89 "2022-03-28T14:37:17Z")
If I knew who Andy Serkins was … perhaps. 🙂 Nah, I’m not saying it was “faked” through CGI; it just looked unreal – the slap didn’t seem like it actually hit to me and Chris Rock stood there like nothing happened to him. I’m bigger and heavier and I think I would have gone flying. It just looked odd. Plus the entire situation. But, alas, it’s real. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/90 "2022-03-28T14:37:57Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Chris Rock was a performer doing his job. He wasn’t some random person verbally assaulting Smith’s wife on the street. And even if he was, there is a reason society has conventions against striking people just because they say something you find offensive. I don’t think Will or Jada consented to being part of that performance. And it’s not like I’m arguing that Will is in the right here. But I’m going to take into account the totality of the situation when rendering a judgement. And, yeah, in this particular case I’m going to cut Will some slack. > [@msmith537](#): > > There is a certain kind of person who seems to always advocate violence (at least in theory) to respond to some perceived slight or miscarriage of justice. Do you think Will Smith is that kind of person? I don’t follow celebrity news closely, but this is the first time I’ve heard of him getting violent. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/91 "2022-03-28T14:43:04Z")
What’s really a shame is that this event overshadows what turned out to be a pretty decent, diverse Oscars. We saw an openly queer actor of Puerto Rican-Black-Italian descent win an Oscar; a supporting actor award to a deaf actor, with screenwriting and best picture Oscars to the film he appeared in; and some really eloquent words by Jessica Chastain speaking out against the wave of repressive, anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ legislation sweeping across the nation. Even all the visual effects/cinematography love going to a film like Dune … And instead of talking about that the next morning it’s all about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock. Thanks a lot, Will, for stealing everybody else’s thunder. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/92 "2022-03-28T14:44:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > the slap didn’t seem like it actually hit to me and Chris Rock stood there like nothing happened to him. That’s actually an argument for it not being staged. If it was, Rock would have acted like he really felt that slap. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/93 "2022-03-28T14:46:05Z")
I don’t really have an opinion about this whole thing, but it’s worth remembering … > **[Audiences for award shows are in steep decline. This chart shows how far...](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/02/oscars-2021-nielsen-data-shows-viewers-have-lost-interest-in-award-shows.html)** > > Are people becoming bored with big award ceremonies or are they just watching them differently? [![](https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106876725-1619803258602-20210430-cARg5-awards-show-audience-declines_1.png?v=1619803276&ffmt=webp) ](https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106876725-1619803258602-20210430-cARg5-awards-show-audience-declines_1.png?v=1619803276&ffmt=webp) … and … > **[Janet Jackson's Super Bowl stylist denies Justin Timberlake incident was a...](https://www.nme.com/news/music/janet-jacksons-super-bowl-stylist-denies-wardrobe-malfunction-at-justin-timberlake-show-3103967)** > > Janet Jackson's ex-stylist has claimed there was no "wardrobe malfunction" at Justin Timberlake's 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. So … who knows … ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/94 "2022-03-28T14:48:53Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I suspect Hollywood wants this little incident to go away as quickly as possible. I mean it creates a kind of weird dynamic, doesn’t it? Like a powerful Oscar-winning performer / director / producer can just slap the shit out of another performer in the middle of his act just because he doesn’t like what he said? This captures the key dynamic. Can you imagine what would have happened if a second tier actor assaulted a presenter because they were offended by a joke made? If this was a stand up club and an audience member did that??? Rock was the sweet spot for any and all offense Smith has been feeling. He had to smile and take the “joke” by Regina Hall. Wouldn’t “man up” to someone bigger and stronger than him. But Rock? Low power in the industry. Male but not big. Perfect person to take it out on. But the award for most disgusting goes to the Academy for giving the appearance of rallying around an audience member assaulting a performer during their act. ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_That](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roger_that/32/8505_2.png) [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/95 "2022-03-28T14:49:03Z")
No one has a problem with it being a sucker punch? Or a sucker slap, I suppose? I think it would have been effective if Smith marched up there, put his face into Rock’s face, and said “You want to say that again, right to my face?” Maybe even taking his jacket off, as he said that. It’s not Smith taking offense, or showing it to Rock, that’s the problem–it’s the escalation into violence. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/96 "2022-03-28T14:51:58Z")
Nah. It’s not really an argument for anything. You can go down one level in that rabbit hole and say, well, he didn’t over-react, because if he did over-react, everybody would know it’s staged. It’s not an argument pro nor con. Like I said, I have no disbelief in that he was actually slapped. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/97 "2022-03-28T14:55:26Z")
I’ve never been a professional actor but, going back to acting class, doing plays when I was younger, etc. I feel like there’s a middle ground between “Will Smith going into rage mode” and “It was staged.” If you’re able to do improv and you’re performing then the agenda is to create entertainment for the audience. Entertainment - other than naked hotties, explosions, and jokes - is drama. Smith was there in the front row, he could walk up there quickly and get back, a fellow performer gave him an opening to do something dramatic, and (potentially) he knew the guy well enough to understand that he would realize that 30% he’d actually pissed off Will but 70% the cameras created a good moment to create a memorable moment for the show. It was real and it was also - in that moment and by the understanding of the improvisational nature of the persons involved - generated as an impromptu staged occurrence. Smith targeted the level of smack, the amount of trash talking, etc. to all fit inside a soundbite and not truly harm Rock in any way. He got revenge for his wife, created a perfect moment of TV, and helped to boost Rock’s image. It was a perfect chance for the heist, where he could get away with it, and he used his talents as an entertainer to pull it off, knowing that he would get away with it because it was great TV and no one had truly been hurt. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/98 "2022-03-28T14:58:12Z")
Well done. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/99 "2022-03-28T15:02:13Z")
> [@Roger\_That](#): > > I think it would have been effective if Smith marched up there, put his face into Rock’s face, and said “You want to say that again, right to my face?” Maybe even taking his jacket off, as he said that. Yeah, I don’t think there’s never a “Well, he was asking for it” point but it obviously isn’t at Step One like we saw last night. Plus the weirdness of Smith laughing at the joke then suddenly deciding it was time to storm the barricades. I don’t believe it was staged but, if I WAS making that argument, I’d probably point to that as “evidence” that Smith wasn’t actually driven into some mindless physical rage. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/100 "2022-03-28T15:09:23Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > My question is why isn’t Will Smith in jail for battery? Those were in no means “fighting words” and hitting someone over alopecia? F’ing snowflakes the Smiths are. It’s not like Chris Rock made a joke about Stage-4 cancer or someone dying of AIDS or Covid. This. If anyone else had rushed the stage and punched a presenter, at the very least they would have been escorted out of the auditorium by the LAPD. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826.md?page=6)