No, Will Smith didn’t present at the Oscars – but Chris Rock was spotted at a viewing party
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When Halle Berry joined Jessica Chastain to present best actor and actress at the Oscars this year, some viewers may have started scratching their heads. Don’t the best actor and best actress winners of the previous year always present the following year’s award?
In Chastain’s case, that was true: she won last year for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” But while Halle Berry did win an Oscar for “Monster’s Ball,” that was more than 20 years ago.
Will Smith technically should’ve been up there for his win last year for “King Richard” – but he couldn’t since the Academy banned him from all events for 10 years. Here’s a look at why.
Why Will Smith wasn’t at the Oscars
At least year’s Oscar ceremony, Will Smith walked up on stage and slapped Chris Rock, who was presenting an award. Rock had earlier made a joke about a possible “G.I. Jane” sequel in reference to Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head. Pinkett Smith, Will Smith’s wife, has previously opened up about her struggle with alopecia. The incident left the crowd stunned. No one knew whether it was a canned bit or an act of aggression.
“Will Smith just slapped the (expletive) out of me,” Rock told the audience. Smith said from his table after: “Keep my wife’s name out of your (expletive) mouth.”
Smith later apologized twice and Rock has since addressed the moment. In his recent Netflix special, he said: “People are like, ‘Did it hurt?’ It still hurts! I got summertime ringing in my ears!” he said. “But I’m not a victim, baby. You will never see me on Oprah, Gayle, crying.”
The 2022 slap became the joke of the 2023 show
Though Smith wasn’t in attendance on account of the ban, host Jimmy Kimmel never let viewers forget about the slap with quip after quip after quip referencing it.
“We want you to feel safe, most importantly we want me to feel safe … so we have strict policies in place,” Kimmel said during the telecast. “If anyone in this theater commits an act of violence during this show, you will be awarded the Oscar for best actor and permitted to give a 19-minute long speech.”
As for Rock: It appears he attended an Oscars viewing party (sans slap).
What you missed at the Oscars
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