Oscars 2022: Will Smith, the ambassador of the bats

Created: 03/28/2022, 10:32 am

By: Katja Kraft

Oscars 2022: Will Smith slaps Chris Rock after he made a joke at Smith's wife's expense.

© Chris Pizzello/dpa

Will Smith slaps Oscar presenter Chris Rock on stage after he made a joke at the expense of Will Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

With that, the 94th Academy Awards in Los Angeles had its scandal.

In fact, the music should start right away.

As a sign to Will Smith that he's now coming to the end of his acceptance speech for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

But who would dare to silence him?

Definitely not Chris Rock.

His cheek probably still hurts.

After this bizarre moment that will go down in film history.

Oscars 2022: Chris Rock jokes about Smith's bald head

It actually feels like a staged drama what happens on Sunday night during the 94th Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

Rock, a comedian who is not always politically correct, is supposed to announce the names of the nominees for best documentary.

It goes without saying that he cracks a few jokes in advance.

Among other things, he targets Will Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

She suffers from hair loss and has therefore shaved her head.

Rock quips, "I'm looking forward to 'GI Jane 2'" - part two of The Jane Files (1998).

A nod to Jada Pinkett Smith's hairstyle, reminiscent of Demi Moore's cropped hair as GI Jane.

Enter Will Smith: He marches straight towards Rock - and slams his hand in the face.

Fun, one might think at first.

part of the show.

But back in his place

Smith follows up, yelling twice at the top of his lungs: "Keep my Wife's Name out of your fucking Mouth!"

- in English: "Don't you dare put my wife's name in your damn mouth!"

Will Smith: "Keep my wife's name out of your fucking mouth!"

Disbelieving look at the alarm clock: 3.29 German time.

Do you doze off and dream – or is that really happening in Hollywood?

The guests in the local Dolby Theater seem to be asking themselves the same question.

First and foremost Chris Rock, who somehow, visibly surprised, announces the next category – and then straight away leaves the stage.

Everything that happens after this incident is bound to go down.

Because pretty much everyone has one question on their mind: How will Will Smith, considered the nod for the Best Actor Oscar, say if he wins?

Will he apologize?

Keep yelling?

And how will the audience react?

booing?

Applaud?

Dumbfounded silence?

Will Smith wins the Oscar for "King Richard"

We're in Hollywood.

And it happens what would happen in any classic Hollywood film.

The fallen hero who made a mistake proclaims his noble motive behind the deed - and is celebrated all the more fiercely for it.

Smith deserved the Oscar not only for his undeniably terrific performance in King Richard, but also for what follows.

With tears in his eyes, the 53-year-old struggles for words – only to compare himself very skillfully with Richard Williams, the father of tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams, who he plays.

"He was a fierce defender of his family." So was he, Smith.

In the happy entertainment world, you are used to others making fun of you and not showing you the respect they deserve.

You're expected to laugh about it and pretend it's okay.

Subtext: But it's just not okay.

Sub-Subtext: Got it, Chris Rock?

Oscars 2022: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith on the red carpet.

© Angela Weiss/afp

"I want to be an ambassador of love and caring and concern," Smith squeaks.

Now, as a moralizing European, one would like to object to so much pathos: That's nice, lad, but how false are all the pretty words about love and family spirit when you then hit them with violence?

At that moment, Smith gets the curve and proves that he's got what it takes, big time cinema.

He quotes his friend Denzel Washington, who said to him immediately after the blow to Chris Rock: "If you're at the top, the devil will take you." And so he shows remorse.

"I would like to apologize.

With the academy and with all the nominees.” He then sends “light” over them all.

Because this Oscar win only means so much to him because it radiates positively on the entire film team and the Williams family.

Richard Williams has often been called insane.

"Now I look like a crazy dad myself," Smith says with a chuckle.

"But love makes you do crazy things." In the hall, they nod knowingly.

And clap.

And cheer.

King Will(iams) – award-worthy.

credits please