The pieces are still being put together. With Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards being one of the most surprising things to ever occur at the Oscars, it’s no surprise that late-night hosts had a lot to say about it.
Late Night Tackles the Will Smith ‘Hitch’ Slap
Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted the ceremony in 2017 and 2018, was taken aback that the 53-year-old actor playing King Richard managed to top the craziest thing that had ever happened at the Oscars, which was Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty incorrectly announcing La La Land as the Best Picture winner instead of the actual winner, Moonlight.
A little down since I’ve only hosted the second wildest Oscars of all time,” the Man Show veteran, 54, said on Monday’s edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live! Perhaps this idea should be implemented at each and every ceremony.
Upcoming events include the announcement of the winner of the Record of the Year Grammy and the question of who Dua Lipa will assault. Olivia Rodrigo or Bruno Mars? What happens next at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards?
For his part, Stephen Colbert initially quipped that Smith’s smack was the “worst thing” he had ever done, before immediately reversing his stance.
The 57-year-old comic joked on Colbert’s show, “Wait, I forgot about Wild Wild West.” “Of course I’m joking. His role as Gemini Man is his poorest accomplishment. One or both of the male leads in that film ought to be slapped. +
On Sunday, March 27, the Men in Black actor, Will Smith, made waves when he stepped out on stage and smacked Chris Rock, 57, who was presenting the award for Best Documentary Feature. The former SNL cast member suggested that Will Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, could play the lead in a G.I. Jane sequel because of her short buzz cut.
Some viewers could have thought the slap was part of an act because the Philadelphia native initially laughed at the quip. When Ali sat down again and exclaimed, “Keep my wife’s name out your f-king lips!” it was evident that it wasn’t premeditated.
The day after winning an Oscar, the actor posted an Instagram apology. “Violence in all its forms is poisonous and harmful,” he posted on Instagram on Monday.
My actions at last night’s Oscars were completely uncalled for and unforgivable. There will always be jokes made at my expense, but when someone made fun of Jada’s illness, I lost it. (The 50-year-old star of Magic Mike XXL has been open about her battle with alopecia.)
The “Miami” Rapper Went on to “Publicly Apologise” to Rock.
I was totally out of line and completely incorrect,” he went on to say. The guy I aspire to be is not reflected in my behaviour, and I am ashamed. If we create a world where people are genuinely caring about one another, then there is no room for violence.
Jada, for her part, gently commented to the situation on Tuesday, sharing an Instagram quote that said, “This is a season for healing and I’m here for it.”
To find out what else the late-night hosts had to say about the trending topic, scroll down.
In the Words of Jimmy Kimmel
The native New Yorker referred to the confrontation as “the old Hitch slap,” after the romantic comedy starring Will from 2005. The only other thing I can think of is when Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield’s ear,” he continued.
“Even Kanye [West] was like, ‘You walked on stage and did what at an awards show?’ … Nobody saw G.I. Jane coming, but it ended up being the most divisive film of 2022.
This was the Hollywood version of your drunk uncle sparking a fight, spoiling the wedding and then standing up and offering a big toast to the bride and groom.”
To Kimmel’s astonishment, no one in the crowd sought to stop the fracas. “No one lifted a finger!” he joked. We saw Spider-Man. We even saw Aquaman! Squatting on her paws like a cat, of course. No one assisted Chris Rock!”
Jimmy Fallon
“America may be divided, but it was sort of lovely for all of us to gather together and go, ‘oh crap’ at the same time,” the Fever Pitch singer began on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Questlove’s win as best documentary at the Academy Awards is the topic everyone wants to hear about, so here it is: “Of course, I have to address the huge moment that everyone is talking about.” The musician, 51, is part of The Roots, who are Fallon’s house band on the show.
“Seriously, you know it was a peculiar awards event when it finishes with a statement from the LAPD, you know what I’m saying?” the SNL alum, 47, continued.
“In just a single second, the Oscars switched from Oscar de la Renta to Oscar De La Hoya. You move the prize for outstanding film editing out of the main broadcast and all hell breaks lose.”
