The Night the Oscars Lost Control
The damage control began not long after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock across the face. After the two exchanged a few words, Rock glanced offscreen and appeared momentarily bewildered. Then he awkwardly tried to lighten the mood before pressing on to present the Best Documentary nominees.
The altercation was the —at least for people watching at home. But inside the Dolby Theatre, the show proceeded as if journalists to avoid questions “referring to anything else in the show other than the winners onstage.” One of the emcees, Amy Schumer, lightly joked about the incident before introducing another presenter. Smith remained in his seat, apparently comforted by his publicist and fellow A-listers—including Denzel Washington, Tyler Perry, and Bradley Cooper—before accepting an Oscar for his performance in . Not until the ceremony ended did the Academy release a statement referring obliquely to the slap. “The Academy does not condone violence of any form,” it read.
