Will Smith Reflects on Chris Rock Slap’s Impact on His Career and Authenticity

Will Smith has opened up about the infamous moment he slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, offering a surprising take on how it impacted his life and career.

The actor, 56, reflected on the incident – where he struck Chris, 60, on stage over a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, which was due to her alopecia diagnosis. 

The shocking moment led to a 10-year ban from the Oscars and sparked global backlash.

Now, nearly three years later, Will has described the incident as ‘bruitiful’ – a blend of brutal and beautiful – as he spoke about authenticity, personal growth, and how the fallout reshaped his perspective.

Appearing on Radio 1Xtra with host Remi Burgz on Tuesday, he said: ‘Finding that way to be with my own humanity – be able to not be perfect but be human and find a higher power in my humanity that I found in my constellation of ideas of perfection that we called Will Smith.

‘The fullness of who I am to allow that to be better than Will Smith. 

Will Smith has opened up about the infamous moment he slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, offering a surprising take on how it impacted his life and career

The actor, 56, reflected on the incident – where he struck Chris, 60, on stage over a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, which was due to her alopecia diagnosis

Now, nearly three years later, Will has described the incident as ‘bruitiful’ – a blend of brutal and beautiful – as he spoke about authenticity, personal growth, and how the fallout reshaped his perspective

‘The honestly and authenticity and the broader spectrum of the possibilities of who I am is better than Will Smith.

‘Working in that space of authenticity and honesty and perfection. 

‘Allowing that to grow into a higher perfection than the imagery of Will Smith is where I am as an artist and human right now.’

The slap remains one of the most shocking and talked-about moments in Oscars history.

It unfolded during the 94th Academy Awards at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre, as Chris was presenting the award for Best Documentary. 

While on stage, he made a joke about Jada’s shaved head, comparing her to Demi Moore’s look in the 1997 film G.I. Jane.

Jada, who has alopecia, didn’t find the comment amusing – and moments later, Will stormed the stage and struck Chris across the face with an open-handed slap.

‘Will Smith just smacked the s*** out of me,’ Chris said from the stage after being hit.

The slap remains one of the most shocking and talked-about moments in Oscars history

At the time, Will’s wife Jada had recently revealed that she was suffering alopecia and had shaved her head

The actor then returned to his seat beside Jada and, still visibly furious, shouted at Chris to ‘keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth’ – twice – leaving the audience stunned. 

He later won the Oscar for Best Actor for his work in King Richard after the incident.

‘I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award. It’s not about winning an award for me. It’s about being able to shine a light on all of the people,’ Will said during his acceptance speech.

It took four months for the actor to issue an apology to Chris, which came in the form of an emotional YouTube video.

‘Chris, I apologise to you. My behaviour was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk,’ he said directly into the camera. Smith noted that he has since reached out to Rock but the comedian was not ready.

Will has been working hard to rehabilitate his once squeaky clean image by speaking openly about that ‘horrific night’ and admitting his wrongdoings.