The Oscars slap

Bella Lee, Staff Writer

You can’t have celebrities without the drama. Whether it’s cheating, having a lot of kids, deaths, falling outs or whatever the news happens to be on that day, you can never go a full 24 hours without hearing some sort of scandal occur. The incident that everyone is talking about right now just happened on March 27 during the Oscars. The Oscars were already marred with controversy before the infamous scenario took place. There was an awkward conversation between Lady Gaga and Caitlyn Jenner that quickly made headlines, the performance of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Disney’s Encanto was less than satisfactory to viewers, the list goes on.

However, it was the altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock that has been circulating the Internet globally. Will Smith was in the running for Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard. He was attending the Oscars with his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who had shaved her head due to alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that leads to hair loss. Chris Rock, making light of the situation, joked by saying, “Jada, good to see you, GI Jane 2, I can’t wait to see it,” referring to the 1997 movie that starred Demi Moore with a shaved head. According to multiple accounts, Smith laughed at the joke, but following a glare from his wife, promptly walked on stage and powerfully slapped Rock across the face. He then sat back down and yelled, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f—ing mouth,” at Rock.

This incident has been met with a variety of reactions from fans, fellow celebrities and critics alike. Rock’s comedy shows have seen sales skyrocket and sell out. He has been interviewed on multiple platforms, discussing how he is still processing what had happened to him. Smith has resigned from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences in the wake of the situation. Multiple upcoming projects with him slated to star in them have been paused. Smith issued a public apology the next day, but many are still calling for Smith’s Best Actor Oscar, which he won only 20 minutes after slapping Rock, to be revoked.

However, the main burning question is: whose fault is it? Some say it’s Rock’s fault, since the joke he made was insensitive to those with alopecia. Others says it’s Smith’s fault, since he shouldn’t have assaulted Rock on live TV. A select few believe it to be Jada Pinkett Smith’s fault, since her relationship with her husband has been revealed in recent years to be toxic. I just believe it to be a very unsure and foggy situation. I very much enjoy both Will Smith and Chris Rock and their performances. I can only hope that this situation is resolved quickly and in a way that no one is hurt or will be hurt in the future.