Many Oscars were presented at the 2022 Academy Awards show, but the awards themselves seemed to have faded into the background. The highlight (or lowlight) of the evening was a brief but shocking altercation between comedian Chris Rock and actor Will Smith.

Rock made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, being in a "G.I. Jane" sequel, alluding to her shaved head, caused by the hair loss disease alopecia. Smith rushed the stage and slapped Rock in the face, and viewers initially questioned whether this was a scripted moment or not, given the tense relationship between Rock and Smith.

Rock has previously made jokes at Jada’s expense, once in 2016 — when she boycotted the Oscars, and Rock said she wasn't even invited in the first place — and again in 2018, when Rock commented "Wow...You have a very understanding wife." on Will's birthday tribute to his ex, Sheree Zampino. Rock's jabs may have led to the now-infamous slap.

Later in the evening, Smith won the Oscar for Best Actor, for his part in "King Richard." Smith used his acceptance speech to apologize for his actions, but he didn't address Rock directly that night, furthering their animosity.