The story between Chris Rock and Jada Pinkett Smith did not begin on the Oscars stage in 2022 when Chris Rock got slapped by Will Smith. In fact, their tension started many years before, and it has been quietly building up behind the scenes. What happened at the 2022 Oscars was only the boiling point of a long-standing feud that has now become a major topic in Hollywood.
Back in 2016, Jada Pinkett Smith made headlines for boycotting the Academy Awards. Her main reason was that her husband, actor Will Smith, was not nominated for his performance in the movie Concussion. At the time, there was a larger conversation in Hollywood about diversity and representation, and many Black actors and filmmakers were frustrated by the lack of recognition at major award shows like the Oscars. Jada joined in that protest and refused to attend the ceremony. However, things became more personal when it was revealed that she did not only boycott because of the general issue of inclusion but also because she didn’t want Chris Rock to host the ceremony that year.
Chris Rock, being a comedian, didn’t hold back. During his hosting at the 2016 Oscars, he threw a joke at Jada for boycotting the event. He said, “Jada said she’s not coming, protest. I was like, ‘Isn’t she on a TV show?’ Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties. I wasn’t invited!” This joke suggested that Jada was not a big enough Hollywood name to make a difference by not attending the show. At the time, many people laughed, but others felt it was unnecessary and disrespectful.
That joke stayed with Jada, and according to Chris Rock, it was the beginning of the real issue between them. Chris later said, “She started, I finished it. She started this sh!t.” He believed that Jada had wronged him first by criticizing him publicly and trying to affect his job as the host of the Oscars. From his point of view, he was only responding in the way he knows best – with jokes.
Fast forward to 2022, Chris Rock was once again on the Oscars stage, this time not as a host, but as a presenter. During his segment, he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, comparing her to “G.I. Jane,” a movie character who also had a bald head. What Chris Rock may not have known was that Jada had publicly spoken about her struggle with alopecia, a medical condition that causes hair loss. The joke did not sit well with Will Smith, who walked up to the stage and slapped Chris Rock in front of the entire audience and millions of viewers worldwide. It was one of the most shocking moments in Oscar history.
After the incident, Will Smith received a 10-year ban from the Academy Awards. He later apologized publicly and spoke about how he was under emotional stress at the time. Still, the damage was done. Chris Rock did not press charges but eventually spoke about the incident in his comedy special, where he expressed how hurt and embarrassed he felt. He also explained that the joke was not meant to be harmful and that he had no idea Jada was dealing with a health condition.
Chris Rock also made it clear that he believed Jada had treated him unfairly over the years. He felt she had targeted him during the 2016 Oscars and that he had been the victim of a long-standing grudge. To him, the slap was not just about the joke — it was about everything that had happened before.
Today, the relationship between Chris Rock and the Smiths is deeply damaged. The slap has created a permanent crack in what was once a professional connection. Even though Will and Jada have both tried to explain their sides of the story, many people believe that the issue could have been handled better. Chris Rock, being a comedian, felt he was doing his job. Will Smith, being a husband, felt he had to defend his wife. But in the end, it turned into a public conflict that shocked the world.
This feud is a reminder that even celebrities go through real emotions, grudges, and misunderstandings. It also shows how something that starts as a small joke or disagreement can grow into something much bigger when not resolved. Whether Chris Rock and the Smiths will ever be able to mend their relationship is still unknown. But what is clear is that the events of the 2016 and 2022 Oscars will remain a key moment in the history of entertainment.
