Will Smith Assaults Chris Rock Live at the Oscars, Wins Award Moments Later, Internet Reacts

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

Mar 27, 2022 8:00 PM EDT

What the heck just happened?

So, let's get this straight… You can get up on stage at the Oscars and attack a presenter live on television, and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that security is going to do to stop you? You are then free to return to your seat while the person you just attacked has to fumble through the rest of their presentation awkwardly. You have got to be kidding me.

The show should have been stopped, and Will Smith should have been removed from the building. Please tell me I'm not the only one thinking that here.

Instead, he was gifted one of the most prestigious awards an actor can receive mere moments later. There is no way that he will be allowed to keep that once Chris Rock files for assault.

It was so unbelievable that something like that initial smack could happen that I admit I initially thought it was scripted. The lack of reaction from the production team made it seem like it had to be planned. It wasn't until Will returned to his seat that you started to wonder what the heck was happening.

His angry yell cutting through and awkward silence of a hall that had been, moments before, filled with fanfare has got to be one of the most bizarre things I have ever seen on television.

Sure, Chris's joke was in abysmal taste but if we can attack comedians now for saying something that we don't like, what sort of message is that sending? There needs to be serious repercussions for this type of behavior. Being Will Smith should not excuse you.

The Oscars are back in a big way, but for all the wrong reasons. We are going to be talking about this for a long time and Twitter has been going absolutely nuts since the incident occurred.

See the videos of the incident and Will's acceptance speech minutes later below, along with some of the best reactions so far.

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Will Smith Went Up On Stage Live at the Oscars to Attack Chris Rock After Chris Rock Made a Joke About His Wife

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