Chris Rock vs. Will Smith
On a seemingly dull evening, a slap was seen and heard around the world. A live television broadcast of the Academy Awards caught Will Smith slapping Chris Rock after making an inflammatory joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s alopecia. Suddenly, the audience was split – did Chris Rock deserve it, or should violence not be condoned?
To Smith’s immediate dismay, his win as Leading Actor in King Richard was overshadowed by his impulsive move, and he apologized in his speech. Afterward, the Academy banned Smith for ten years, and he has been blackballed throughout the industry ever since. Chris Rock responded by saying the slap hurt, but he was not a victim.