The most shocking moments in Oscars history

Chris Rock strikes back at Will Smith Oscars slap in new stand-up: "It still hurts"

Stars Insider

06/03/23 | StarsInsider

MOVIES Academy awards

As one of the most revered awards shows in Hollywood (the industry that, after all, thrives on drama), it makes sense that the Oscars have their own history of outrageous and salacious controversies.

The dramatic story around the infamous 2022 ceremony when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock continues to evolve, as Rock has finally addressed the moment during his live Netflix special, 'Selective Outrage,' in which he made it clear he's still upset. "You all know what happened to me, getting smacked by 'Suge' Smith," the comedian began. "I got smacked like a year ago… And people are like ‘Did it hurt?’ It still hurts. I got ‘Summertime’ ringing in my ears."  

Refusing to keep Will's wife's name out his mouth, Rock dove into Jada Pinkett Smith's affair with her son's friend and how she discussed it with her husband on her 'Red Table Talk' show. "We’ve all been cheated on, everybody in here been cheated on," Rock said. "None of us has ever been interviewed by the person who cheated on us on television… Why the f—k would you do that s—t? She hurt [Will] way more than he hurt me." He continued, "Everybody called [Will] a b—h. And who’s he hit? Me! A n— he know he can beat." 

Rock added that he didn't hit Smith back because he parents taught him "Don’t fight in front of white people!" Then he brought the segment to a close by picking at the phrase 'words hurt': "Anybody who says ‘words hurt’ has never been punched in the face." Rock previously down the Academy's offer to return as host in 2023 and explained to an audience at a Phoenix stand-up show that it would be like going back to a crime scene or inviting Nicole Brown Simpson "to go back to the restaurant," reports the Arizonal Republic.

From hilarious host gaffes to loud political statements on the red carpet, the reactions to the Academy Awards can be more entertaining than some of the films themselves. Click through to reminisce on some of the most historic moments.

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