While usually worlds away from the stars that dot the Dolby Theatre as they watch their own accept an actor’s highest honour – an Academy Award – this year, viewers at home had something in common with Hollywood’s biggest and brightest… we were all just as confused as each other.
WATCH: Will Smith Appears To Punch Chris Rock At The Oscars 2022
It was one moment in particular that sparked this collective confusion – a moment that is bound to go down in entertainment history along with La La Land being mistakenly named Best Picture over Moonlight in 2017, or Kanye West stealing the microphone from Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMAs.
The Awards show formula was running as smoothly as live television can, until presenter Chris Rock made a joke that prompted Will Smith aggressively off his seat and up on stage.
After the comedian suggested Will’s Smith wife Jada Pinkett Smith might appear in a GI Jane sequel, Will initially smiled at the jab, while Jada rolled her eyes.
Whatever then exchanged between Will and Jada is unknown as the camera cut back to the joke-maker, before Will marched towards his fellow actor and hit him square across the face. He then returned to his seat, yelling: “leave my wife’s name out your f—ing mouth.”
The joke in question referred to the 1997 Demi Moore movie GI Jane, where the actress shaved her head. Jada has recently been very open with fans about suffering hair loss due to alopecia.
The audience in the theatre seemed as clueless as those at home as to whether or not this was a staged ‘bit’. Smiles slowly faded as a seemingly shocked Chris regained his composure.
As they say in the industry: the show must go on. And it did.
But the internet was (and is) still playing catch up, with attendees and viewers alike reacting to the scene.
Here is what some famous faces had to say about the altercation.
Lupita Amondi Nyong’o
Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Amondi Nyong’o was sitting behind Will and Jada for the duration of the exchange, and her facial expressions demonstrated intense confusion.
But Lupita was only the first of many reactions, not only in the moment but after the fact.
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg also spoke about the altercation on her show The View saying that Will “overreacted” but he doesn’t think he will be stripped of his Oscar following an investigation.
“I get it, not everybody acts the way we would like them to act under pressure. And he snapped. Sometimes you get to a point when you behave badly. I myself have behaved badly on occasion.”
Liam Payne
There were also more local reactions to the incident from Australian celebs.
Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon
Today Show presenter Karl Stefanovic said that Will “lost the plot” adding that it was “really sad”.
“You saw it in his speech afterwards,” he added, referring to the actor’s acceptance speech for Best Actor. “I know stand-up comedians do it for a living, and we’ve been the butt of plenty of that stuff, but if it’s your wife, it’s very different.”
At this point, co-host Allison Langdon jumped to say: “Regardless, you don’t stand up and you don’t respond with violence.”
Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O
Speaking on their KIISFM’s Kyle & Jackie O Show, shock jock Kyle said he “admired” that Will “stood up for his missus”.
Jackie was quick to disagree, saying: “He can still stand up for her without going and b–ch slapping someone on stage.”
“A b–ch slap sometimes is necessary,” Kyle doubled down.
Cam Merchant
Meanwhile, MAFS alum Cam Merchant took to his stories to share his thoughts on the event, congratulating Will Smith for his devotion to his family, before clarifying that he doesn’t condone violence.
Brooke Blurton
The Bachelorette’s Brooke Blurton also shared the moment to her own Instagram story, writing: “Umm did this actually happen?!”
Angie Kent
Gogglebox alum Angie Kent shared her discomfort at the exchange on her Instagram story as Will accepted his award for Best Actor.
“Imagine being able to stand up there and say a speech after you just fully slapped someone, without firstly apologizing to all the people there that you made feel so uncomfortable and triggered by using violence!” the reality star wrote.
“You don’t need to protect people with your fists or now speak of how love makes you do crazy things. That’s so scary. Yeah love makes us all crazy… I don’t go around slappin people out.”
In his speech, Will tearfully apologised to the Academy and his fellow nominees.
David Campbell
David Campbell was beyond perplexed, simply sharing a clip to his Instagram story with the caption: “WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED.”
Peter Helliar
Comedian Peter Helliar also shared a string of tweets surrounding the shocking exchange, one of which joked that famously controversial presenter Ricky Gervais would need extra protection should he reclaim the stage.
Luke Toki
Survivor’s Luke Toki took to Instagram in the aftermath to share his take on the ordeal.
He started off by saying that he didn’t agree with Will’s form of violence and that the Academy shouldn’t invite them back, before going on to defend Chris Rock’s attempt at comedy, while also emphasising the joke didn’t land.
“Chris Rock’s a comedian and when you’re a host you can say what you want. Unfortunately, just like when you’re doing a comedy show… there’s consequences for your actions. So if I was going to say a joke… I’m going to say it to my friends because I love them so much and we’re family and even though I’m roasting you, it’s still a way of saying I love you so much.
“Chris Rock read the room wrong,” Luke finished, adding that Will and Jada are clearing “going through some sh_t”.
David Genat
Another Survivor alum David Genat called Will’s actions “uncool”, saying he was considering unfollowing Will Smith on Instagram.
“If that’s fake, that is one of the best publicity stunts in the history of the planet, but I don’t think it’s fake, I think it’s real.”
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