Three years after the infamous incident at the Academy Awards, where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock over a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia, the actor and rapper appears to still be processing the event – this time through music.
During his appearance on British DJ Charlie Sloth’s Fire in the Booth segment, Smith improvised a rap that many interpreted as a direct reference to that viral 2022 moment, for which he was ultimately expelled from the Oscars for 10 years.
Smith Fires Back at Rock in Scathing Lyrics
In his second verse, the Oscar-winning actor, who had won the award on the same night he assaulted Chris Rock, unleashed: «If you talk crazy and disrespect me on stage, wait for me on stage.» He then added: «These jokers throw comments, but they cry when they gotta take it. City full of real ones, I didn’t grow up to be fake.»
However, Smith did not explicitly mention Rock by name.
Recounting the Infamous Oscars Incident
The attention-grabbing episode occurred when the comedian was presenting the award for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards three years ago, and made a joke about Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, comparing it to G.I. Jane. Moments later, without anyone understanding what was happening, Will Smith walked up on stage and slapped him, yelling from his seat: «Keep my wife’s name out your fucking mouth!»
After the scandal, the former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star publicly apologized, describing his reaction as «unacceptable and inexcusable» and emphasizing that «violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive.» He then resigned from the Academy and received a 10-year ban from attending its ceremonies.
Smith’s Musical Comeback and Rock’s Response
In recent months, Smith has resumed his music career with the album Based on a True Story, where he had already indirectly alluded to the incident. Meanwhile, Chris Rock, who acknowledged that the slap «hurt,» later assured that «he’s not a victim.»
It seems Will Smith is still grappling with the fallout from that fateful night at the Oscars, and he’s now using his music as a platform to address the controversy head-on.
