Oscars 2022: Will Smith's Slapping Incident overshadows his Historic Win

Strategic Insights -

NPR's Aisha Harris joined A Martinez on NPR to discuss the shocking moment of Will Smith slapping presenter Chris Rock at the Oscars. The incident occurred after Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's hair, which has been affected by alopecia. Will Smith's reaction was swift and violent, but he later won his first Oscar for Best Actor, despite his behavior overshadowing the win.

Key Takeaways:

  • Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's hair, which has been shaved due to alopecia, sparking Will Smith's violent reaction.
  • Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage and walked back to his seat, yelling for Chris Rock to keep his wife's name out of his mouth.
  • Despite the incident, Will Smith won his first Oscar for Best Actor, but his speech was not an apology to Chris Rock.
  • Will Smith compared himself to Richard Williams, the character he played in the movie, and mentioned how art imitates life.
  • Apple became the first streaming service to win the Best Picture award for its movie "CODA".
  • Troy Kotsur won the Best Supporting Actor award, becoming the first deaf man to win an Oscar for acting.
  • Ariana DeBose won the Best Supporting Actress award, becoming the first openly queer woman of color to win an Oscar for acting.
  • Rita Moreno, who won the Best Supporting Actress award 60 years ago, was in the room to cheer Ariana DeBose on.

Statistics:

  • 2022: the year of the Oscars incident
  • 1: the number of Academy Awards won by Will Smith for Best Actor
  • 2: the number of Oscars won by "CODA" including Best Picture
  • 1: the number of Oscar wins for Apple, making it the first streaming service to take the big prize
  • 60: the number of years since Rita Moreno won the Best Supporting Actress award
  • 1: the number of deaf men to win an Oscar for acting, with Troy Kotsur becoming the first

Sources:

  • NPR (host: A Martinez, guest: Aisha Harris, co-host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour)
  • (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) CHRIS ROCK: Jada, I love you. "G.I. Jane 2" - can't wait to see it, all right? (LAUGHTER)
  • (SOUNDBITE OF SLAPPING) ROCK: Oh, wow. Wow.