Will Smith's slap in the face of Chris Rock eclipses the best actor Oscar he dreamed of for years

By Daniel

Will Smith is one of the undisputed kings of modern Hollywood, a box office titan who has made millions from big-screen shows like

and

But in his more than 30 years as an actor, Smith has always harbored bigger ambitions, keeping one eye on commercial glory and the other on film projects that showcase his skills as a dramatic actor.

He received his first Oscar nomination in 2002, for the Michael Mann biopic

but lost to Denzel Washington.

She was reintroduced five years later for

, however the statuette went to Forest Whitaker.

Will Smith accepts the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for 'King Richard' during the 94th Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre. Myung Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag

Sunday night was expected to end differently, and it did: Smith finally won an Academy Award for his lead role in the poignant drama

, a portrayal of Richard Williams, the ambitious father of female tennis players Venus. and Serena Williams.

But

was overshadowed by the slap in the face that stunned everyone.

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Chris Rock, presenting the award for Best Documentary Feature, made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, saying that he was excited to see her in

, a reference to her shaved head.

In 2018, Pinkett Smith revealed that she was diagnosed with alopecia, a condition that causes her hair to lose.

Smith, evidently incensed by the comment, went up to the main stage of the Dolby Theater and slapped Rock across the face.

The audience fell silent, seemingly transfixed by confusion and shock.

The audio signal on television screens across the United States cut off as Smith returned to his seat and yelled an expletive at Rock.

This is how the Academy reacted to Will Smith's slap to Chris Rock

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Minutes later, Will Smith returned to the stage, this time to accept his Oscar for

.

At that point it was clear that he was going to have to change the acceptance speech he had prepared.

The suspense in the theater was palpable.

With tears in his eyes, Smith apologized to the Film Academy and the Williams sisters.

Smith did not address Rock, who has mocked Pinkett Smith in previous years, and tried to justify what he had done.

"Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family," Smith said.

them and to be a river for my people," he added.

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Smith's speech was raw, emotional and surely unexpected by the same artist who did not know what was going to happen when he settled into his seat located in the first row.

The enthusiastic reception of the movie

represented his coronation, and the Oscar that all the award pundits correctly predicted would come to him was the culmination of his career.

He came into the ceremony a true award contender, having won equivalent statuettes at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Golden Globes and other industry events.

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Immediately after the confrontation, the potential repercussions were still making themselves felt.

The Los Angeles Police Department said it was aware of the incident.

, authorities said.

But it's clear the incident will remain undeniably tied to Smith's victory and possibly his public image for years to come.

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The actor's spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment by NBC News on Sunday night after the ceremony.

The Academy, after the show ended, posted a brief message on Twitter without mentioning Smith or Rock by name, saying the organization "does not condone violence in any form."

In true Hollywood fashion, the ceremony featured a surprising twist.

In the long run, the hit may be more controversial than any movie nominated for best picture this year.