Jada Pinkett Smith Finally Reveals Shocking Truth Behind Will Smith's Oscars Slap After 18 Months

Summary

Jada Pinkett Smith shares her reaction to the infamous Will Smith Oscars slap, admitting she initially thought it was a skit.

The unscripted slap became the most talked about moment of the 2022 Oscars.

Pinkett Smith plans to support Will but also let him handle the consequences on his own.

Jada Pinkett Smith discloses her reaction to the infamous Will Smith Oscars slap incident. The incident took place at the 2022 Oscars right before the announcement of the Best Documentary Feature Oscar. During a comedic moment, Chris Rock joked about Pinkett Smith's bald head, alluding to her role in the film G.I. Jane. In response, Will Smith unexpectedly went on stage and slapped Rock's face. This spontaneous moment became the most talked-about aspect of the 2022 Oscars.

According to Variety, Pinkett Smith finally speaks out about the Oscars slap a year and a half later. Pinkett Smith expressed her disbelief when the slap occurred, initially thinking it was part of a skit. When Will Smith returned to his seat beside her, Pinkett Smith inquired, "Are you okay?". Here is the direct quote from Pinkett Smith:

I viewed it as a skit, thinking, "There's no chance that Will would actually strike him." The realization that it wasn't a skit hit me only when Will returned to his seat.

I will support him, while also giving him the space to navigate this on his own.

What Happened After the 2022 Oscars Slap?

Pinkett Smith's expletive-filled reaction of "get my wife's name out your f*cking mouth" during the 2022 Oscars broadcast resonated with many viewers at home. Despite the broadcast's six-second delay feature censoring her words for live viewers, it was surprising that Smith would go on stage and physically confront Rock, especially considering Rock's joke about Pinkett Smith's alopecia condition, which could be deemed offensive. Despite the incident, Smith remained in the audience for the rest of the evening and later won Best Actor for his role in King Richard. During his acceptance speech, Smith emphasized the importance of protecting family and offered a seemingly insincere apology, which he later followed up with a more genuine apology to Rock.

Pinkett Smith has remained mostly silent about the slap that occurred at the 2022 Oscars, which makes this statement particularly significant. In contrast, Will Smith decided to step down as a voting member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and has been barred from attending any Academy events, including the Oscars, for a decade. Although the 2023 Oscars went much more smoothly, the incident involving the slap at the 2022 Oscars continues to reverberate throughout the awards show and is regarded as one of the most astonishing moments in Oscars history.