Oscars 2022: P Diddy offers to step in after Will Smith hits Chris Rock over Jada Pinkett Smith joke

‘Will Smith just smacked the s*** out of me,’ Rock said, looking visibly flustered

Monday 28 March 2022 03:58 BST

Will Smith punches Chris Rock at the Oscars

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P Diddy offered to help resolve the feud between Will Smith and Chris Rock after the King Richard actor hit Rock at the Academy Awards.

Smith, who went on to win the Best Actor award, yelled at the comedian during the live ceremony, telling him to “keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth”.

Rock had just made a joke about Smith’s wife, fellow actor Jada Pinkett Smith, that appeared to reference her shaved head. Pinkett Smith has spoken in the past about her struggles with alopeacia.

When the livestream resumed, P Diddy – real name Sean Combs – came on-stage and offered to mediate between Smith and Rock.

“Will and Chris, we’re going to solve this – but right now we’re moving on with love,” the rapper said.

Smith was seen speaking to Denzel Washington after his apparent on-stage fracas with Rock. During his Best Actor winner’s speech for King Richard, Smith revealed what Washington had said to him after the incident.

Following the altercation, a joke Rock made about Pinkett Smith at the 2016 Oscars resurfaced online.

Earlier in the ceremony, Regina Hall – who was hosting the ceremony alongside Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes – poked fun at Smith and Pinkett Smith’s marriage.

Dune and Coda were the evening’s big winners, with the latter winning all three nominations it was up for, including Best Picture.

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