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The Oscars have long been synonymous with drama, and not just the kind depicted on screen.
Since the Academy Awards began nearly a century ago, the event has been fraught with controversies and jaw-dropping moments, many of which have unfolded in recent years.
One of the most talked-about incidents occurred during the 2022 ceremony. In a shocking turn of events, Will Smith took to the stage at the Dolby Theatre and slapped Chris Rock. The slap followed a joke Rock made about Jada Pinkett Smith‘s shaved head while presenting the award for Best Documentary Feature, leaving both the live audience and millions watching at home in disbelief.
Amid the tension, Smith shouted at the comedian, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f–king mouth,” to which Rock replied, “Dude. It was a G.I. Jane joke.”
Although Smith later expressed remorse for his actions, the Academy responded with a significant penalty: a 10-year ban from attending any of its events, effective until 2032.
“That was a horrific night as you can imagine,” Smith—who ended up winning Best Actor for his performance in King Richard shortly after the slap—recalled during a December 2022 appearance on The Daily Show. “There’s many nuances and complexities to it. But at the end of the day, I lost it.”