Will Smith’s Oscar slap of comedian Chris Rock for making fun of Jada Pinkett-Smith’s alopecia may not be what it seemed. Some suggest it was staged for publicity. A video in slow motion seems to show Rock ready for the slap. Critics argue Smith was defending his wife’s honor, but some think they may have planned it.
“But defending his wife against a longtime friend? Nah. These guys are boys,” says Rare. Still, it’s worth considering who benefited from the incident. The entire movie industry got attention, bringing life back to the Oscars after boycotts and declining viewership.
While there’s speculation, most agree the slap was real, occurring during a televised event. Smith, whether staged or not, defended his wife’s honor in a high-profile way.