Shaun King Responds To Will Smith v. Chris Rock Fight: 'Everybody Loses In This'
By Kristin Myers on March 27, 2022 at 11:20 PM EDT
Updated on March 29, 2022 at 12:26 AM EDT
Actor Will Smith just did the unthinkable at the Oscars. He went on to win his first Academy Award for his role in "King Richard" but that's not what most people are going to remember about his time at the 94th Annual Academy Awards.
Amy Kaufman may have summed up the situation the best when she tweeted, "Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith being in 'G.I. Jane' because of her bald head. She's spoken openly about having a hair loss condition. Will Smith ran on stage, slapped Rock, then screamed twice at the top of his lungs 'KEEP MY WIFE'S NAME OUT OF YOUR F---ING MOUTH.'"
Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith being in "G.I. Jane" because of her bald head. She's spoken openly about having a hair loss condition. Will Smith ran on stage, slapped Rock, then screamed twice at the top of his lungs "KEEP MY WIFE'S NAME OUT OF YOUR F-NG MOUTH."
— Amy Kaufman (@AmyKinLA) March 28, 2022
Many took to social media to give their take on the exchange, including author and advocate Shaun King.
Shaun King Said That Will Smith 'Might Actually Get Arrested Over This'
Shaun King shared a clip of what happened to his Facebook page, saying “I can’t believe what I just saw.”
“I don’t quite know what to say,” he continued. “This is actually real. I am 100% sure.”
“I believe what set Will off about the joke is that GI Jane was bald by choice and Jada isn’t bald by choice. And that when Will saw Jada’s reaction, which appeared to be pained, it set him off,” he went on. “Will should not have slapped Chris like that. Comedians are offensive. And at the Oscars everybody is a target. I’m afraid that Will might actually get arrested over this. It was indeed criminal assault.”
“Yet, as a husband myself, I understand,” he added. “When you see your wife’s feelings get hurt, it’s almost as if all rules are off. I just hate to see it go down like this. For Chris and for Will. It would’ve been better had Will just heckled Chris back, but when you see your wife’s feelings hurt over something that is so sensitive, it’s hard to control your anger.”
“Will slapped the s--- out of Chris and it’s amazing that Chris didn’t go down,” he said. “I think everybody loses in this.”
WHAT JUST HAPPENED Started Trending After Will Smith Came After Chris Rock
Uncensored video of what just happened between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/J1sHYL0uQj
— This Is What’s Trending Now (@TrendingThisIs) March 28, 2022
Unfiltered and uncensored videos of what happened between Will Smith and Chris Rock immediately started trending online after the unexpected exchange as celebrities weighed in on the exchange.
what just happened
— Zedd (@Zedd) March 28, 2022
"what just happened," Zedd tweeted.
Wtaf????? That wasn’t scripted????? 😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) March 28, 2022
"The Daily Show" host Trevor Noah tweeted, "Wtaf????? That wasn’t scripted????? 😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳"
Will smith just fully sent it and punched Chris rock in the face on the Oscar’s
— THE CHAINSMOKERS (@TheChainsmokers) March 28, 2022
The Chainsmokers tweeted, "Will smith just fully sent it and punched Chris rock in the face on the Oscar’s." He later followed it up with, "Lol holy s--- that was awkward. Gotta respect it. Will smith standing up for his wife and Chris rock taking it on the chin and finishing the presentation. That said it was a joke and Chris is a comedian but this def goes back to 2016."
This is not the first time that Rock has made comments about Jada, but it probably will be the last after what just happened tonight!
will smith making everyone forget what just happened when he goes on stage to accept his oscar in a few minutes #Oscars pic.twitter.com/q7XjCabb0g
— kathleen (@kathleen_hanley) March 28, 2022
Will Smith did win the Oscar for Best Actor and apologized during his acceptance speech. Still, it was hard for people to get back to enjoying after the show after what had just taken place.
I know I’m supposed to be paying attention to the #Oscars, but I’m stuck on Will and Chris. What. Just. HAPPENED. 😳 pic.twitter.com/qkdMcDNXAg
— Mrs.Jones (@mrsjonesfamily) March 28, 2022