Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, which did not appear to go over well with her husband Will Smith.
While presenting the award for best documentary, Rock joked, “Jada I love you, ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it.”
The camera cut to Pinkett Smith, who rolled her eyes as she sat next to Smith because she has been very open about her struggle with alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that leads to hair loss.
Rock then said, “Uh Oh,” and laughed as Smith walked toward him on stage and appeared to strike Rock in the face.
According to CNN reporter Stephanie Elam, who is in the audience, she could hear Rock getting hit. Smith said twice during the incident, according to Elam, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth!”
Rock responded: “Oh, wow.”
Chris Rock was in shock and said, “That was the greatest night in the history of television.”
When Diddy Combs took to the stage moments later he told Smith and Rock that they would settle things “like family” later.
Not too long after the incident, Will accepted the Oscar for best actor and apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees for the incident, but did not mention Rock by name.
He said, “I know to do what we do, you gotta be able to take abuse and have people talk people about you. In this business, you gotta have people disrespecting you. And you gotta smile and pretend that’s ok.”
He went on to express how passionate he is about protecting families at this point in his life and career.