Chris Rock declines to press charges after on-stage Oscars assault by Will Smith, the Academy responds

Well, the Oscars happened last night, and in keeping with the chaotic nature of 2022, no one is talking about movies after actor — and now Academy Award winner — Will Smith stomped onto the stage and assaulted host Chris Rock with an open-handed smack that stunned Hollywood and set social media on fire.

In case you, like millions of other viewers who have come to expect nothing more than woke virtue signaling from self-aggrandizing celebrities from awards ceremonies, tuned out Hollywood’s biggest night, comedian Chris Rock made a not-very-nice remark about Smith’s wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith and her lack of hair, which is caused by an autoimmune disorder called “alopecia.”

While Pinkett Smith seemed to shrug it off as the tasteless jab that it was, Will Smith decided it was enough of a slight to go full macho man and charge the stage, slap the much smaller Rock so hard his head snapped back, and walk calmly back to his seat like he really was Muhammad Ali.

“Wow,” a wide-eyed Rock stated as Smith made his dramatic exit, “Will Smith just smacked the s–t out of me.”

From his seat in the audience, Smith shouted threats to Rock, instructing him twice to keep his wife’s name “out yo f—ing mouth.”

Hollywood celebs and a gobsmacked global audience quickly took Twitter to express their thoughts on the attack, with reactions falling into three camps: Some have condemned the outrageous lack of control; some championed a husband standing up for his wife; and some are certain the whole thing was staged to save a ceremony that has seen its ratings drop through the floor in recent years.

 

“Let me tell you something, it’s a very bad practice to walk up on stage and physically assault a Comedian,” Kathy Griffin tweeted out. “Now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters.”

Sports journalist and ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith tweeted out a video response with a caption that reads, “There’s no excuse for that, Will Smith.”

“What Will Smith did tonight was straight bulls–t,” Smith said. “Props and congratulations to him for winning the Oscar, because, damn it, he deserved it, and I love the brother and I’m proud of him, but boy, was that a shameful act for him to commit tonight. To go up on stage and slap Chris Rock like that? He’s lucky he didn’t get his a– kicked, particularly after the event was over.”

It was an act of “toxic masculinity” that was handled as only Hollywood can handle things: with rules that seem reserved for celebrities who get themselves in trouble.

Will Smith was later awarded the Best Actor statue for his roll in King Richard.

Meanwhile, LAPD has confirmed that, as Chris Rock declined to file a police report, nothing will be done about the assault.

“LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program,” 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.”

Melissa Fine

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