Serena Williamsappears to have reacted toWill SmithstrikingChris Rockonstage at the 2022Academy AwardsSunday night.
Shortly after the incident — which unfolded after Rock, 57, made a joke about Smith’s wifeJada Pinkett Smith— Williams, 40, posted a video to her Instagram Story, which shows her speechless with her mouth open. In a second video, Williams says: “I just sat down, because I was like, I gotta put that drink down.”
As Rock was presenting the award for Best Documentary, he said: “Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see ya.” Pinkett Smith has embraced a low shaved haircut after recently opening upliving with alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss.
Serena Williams Instagram
Smith then walked onto the stage and smacked Rock in the face. “Oh wow,” said a seemingly taken-aback Rock as Will made his way back to his seat. “Will Smithjust smacked the s— out of me.”
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“Keep my wife’s name out your f—ing mouth!” Smith yelled up to the stage at Rock after taking his seat again.
“Wow, dude, it was aG.I. Janejoke,” said Rock — to which Smith replied once again, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—ing mouth!”
“I’m going to, okay?” Rock replied, before going on to say, “That was the … greatest night in the history of television” and presenting the award.
Smith lateracknowledged the moment in his acceptance speechafter winning Best Actor for his performance asVenusandSerena Williams' father Richard Williams inKing Richard, although he omitted Rock from his apology.
“I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees,” he said.
Rock has declined to file a police report.
“LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program,” the LAPD said in a statement. “The incident involved one individual slapping another. The individual involved has declined to file a police report.
“If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report,” the statement continued.
source: people.com
