It was an unforgettable Oscar night on Sunday in Los Angeles for actor Will Smith. Smith won the Academy Award for best actor for his performance in “King Richard.” Only a few minutes earlier, Smith had walked up to the stage and hit presenter Chris Rock in the face with his open hand. Smith reacted after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. People in the audience and television viewers around the world -- were shocked to see the dispute between two well-known performers on Hollywood’s biggest night. Rock’s joke related to Pinkett Smith’s hairless head. Pinkett Smith has a medical condition that affects hair growth. Rock said, “Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.” He meant that Pinkett Smith looked like she was preparing to star in the second G.I. Jane film. The 1997 film was about a woman who enters the military and cuts off her long hair. After Smith hit Rock’s face, he walked back to his seat. He then shouted at Rock to “keep my wife’s name out your (blank) mouth.” His yelling included a bad word. In the United States, television viewers did not hear the sound during the dispute. The broadcaster had turned off the sound because of bad language. Viewers in other parts of the world heard the full exchange. The television broadcast went to an advertisement. Actors Daniel Kaluyya, Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry talked with Smith and calmed the situation. Not long after, Smith came back to the stage to accept his first Oscar for best actor. He used his acceptance speech to apologize for his earlier actions.
