The Slap That Rocked The Oscars

By: Alayna

The Oscars are an event that has had a large cultural impact on the film industry. Although this event has been occurring for a century, the conflict between Will Smith and Chris Rock has ensured that the shocking events from this year’s Oscars continue to be the talk of the town. While on stage, actor and comedian, Chris Rock, made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith (Will Smith’s wife) saying, “Jada, I love you. I can’t wait for GI Jane 2”. GI Jane, a movie from the late 1990s, is about a woman shaving her head while serving in the military. The joke comparing the two people garnered a laugh from the members of the audience. It was obvious that Jada had shaved her head, but not very many knew the reason as to why. In reality, Jada was actually diagnosed with Alopecia, a condition in which the affected individual begins to lose hair, which prompted Jada to shave her hair off. As seen through her annoyed glare at her husband, Jada was not impressed by Chris Rock’s joke. Viewers of the event were able to witness Will Smith angrily walking toward the stage and slapping Rock before he returned to his seat and began scolding the comedian. The unforgettable situation had led many to believe that it was a publicity stunt, but if not, then who is at fault?

Sources

https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/oscars-2022-what-did-chris-rock-say-to-will-smith-why-did-will-smith-slap-chris-rock-gi-jane-joke-explained-3629256

https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/g-i-jane-joke-explained-meaning-chris-rock-s-comment-jada-pinkett-smith-oscars-2022-explored