‘IT’S HOLLYWOOD, everything is fake’
Some viewers are convinced that Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock was fake, and was simply a way to generate interest in the awards show.
At the Oscars on Sunday night, Smith stormed on stage and hit Rock for a joke the comedian had just made about his wife, Jada.
But some are questioning whether the whole thing was staged or not.
One Twitter user listed the reasons he thought the slap was fake, pointing out that the Oscars “needed to find a way for people to care about the show again,” and claiming that the “punch sound was not right.”
He added that Smith and Rock are “actors, it’s their job to fake things,” adding: “IT’S HOLLYWOOD, everything is fake.”
Why the Will Smith, Chris Rock fight was fake:
1. Oscars needed to find a way for people to care about the show again.
2. the punch sound was not right.
3. These are actors, it's their job to fake things.
4. IT'S HOLLYWOOD, everything is fake.#Oscars
— Jake Barford (@BFordLancer) March 28, 2022
Others have pointed out that it looks like Rock is bracing for the slap as if he knew it was about to happen, with one even labelling the pair “marketing geniuses for this one.”
https://twitter.com/UndefeatedRatio/status/1508296760250314754
the fake slap heard round the world!! will smith n chris rock sum market geniuses for this one though 👋🏾 pic.twitter.com/BvJ1M2fTzq
— black dave (@BlackDaveNYC) March 28, 2022
Another was on the fence about whether it was fake or not but pointed out that “ratings have plummeted for awards shows” and that the clip was “viral material.”
I don't know, but when you watch Will Smith first laughing at the joke he then supposedly got upset about…seems staged. Maybe not. But, to the 'why would they fake this,' crowd…ratings have plummeted for awards shows. This is viral material. #rAtiNGs https://t.co/bC7e95jjLq
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) March 28, 2022
Someone else said that only “sheeps be believing it,” suggesting that “they want your attention away from something.” They did not clarify what that “something” was.
https://twitter.com/MFHoz/status/1508385603460734980
Smith had initially laughed at the joke Rock made, which also raised the suspicions of some viewers.
The initial laughter from the crowd at the slap seems to suggest that many inside the auditorium suspected it may be staged, but when Smith continues to shout at Rock from his seat the moment becomes a lot more tense as everyone realises it may have been a genuine altercation.
The Full Uncensored video of Will Smith’s altercation with Chris Rock at the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/cGQ3plSEiz
— Movies (@moreoffilms) March 28, 2022
Smith’s emotional and tearful apology during his acceptance speech after winning the award for Best Actor also seemed pretty genuine.
In his speech Smith reflected on how “people talk crazy about you” in the film industry, and said that “you’ve got to be able to take abuse.” He also revealed that after the incident, Denzel Washington told him: “At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you.”
Will Smith’s Oscar acceptance speech about protecting people and loving people is worth the listen. pic.twitter.com/V9JAGknctQ
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 28, 2022
Neither Smith or Rock have confirmed whether the altercation was real or not.
Related links:
- Will Smith predicted that he would ‘choose chaos’ hours before Oscar slapping incident
- There was a Pulp Fiction reunion at the Oscars that hardly anyone noticed
- Will Smith may lose his Oscar for violating Academy’s code of conduct after slapping Chris Rock