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presenter Chris Rock, left, reacts after being hit on stage by Will Smith while presenting the award for best documentary feature at the Oscars on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
presenter Chris Rock, left, reacts after being hit on stage by Will Smith while presenting the award for best documentary feature at the Oscars on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
presenter Chris Rock, left, reacts after being hit on stage by Will Smith while presenting the award for best documentary feature at the Oscars on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Chris Rock made a joke. Will Smith was quick to take offense.

There was a scene like no other at the Oscars.

Smith won best actor for his portrayal of tennis dad Richard Williams in King Richard, and he appeared to hit Rock on stage at the Academy Awards.

Smith shouted at Rock to keep his name out of his mouth, and the crowd hushed as it became clear this was no act. Smith apologized to many people, including tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, but did not mention Rock in his apology.

Smith said that Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family.

He paused to think about the meaning behind his words and how he would protect those who worked with him on the film.

Smith said during his acceptance speech that he was being called on to love people and protect people. You need to be able to have people talk about you. You have to be able to have people disrespect you. You have to smile and pretend like that is okay.

There were no smiles during the incident.

The exchange began when Rock said, "Jada, I love you." GI Jane 2 can't wait to see it.

Pinkett Smith was diagnosed with alopecia. She talks about the challenges of hair loss on social media.

The joke didn't go as planned.

Smith walked onto the stage from his front-row seat and swung at Rock with an open palm. Smith shouted for Rock to leave Pinkett Smith alone. Smith yelled back at Rock after he replied that he was just making a joke.

That was the greatest night in the history of television, according to Rock.

Sean Combs tried to play peacemaker by suggesting that Smith and Rock meet at an Oscars afterparty.

We are going to solve that like a family at the Gold party.

The reverberations went on. Several people approached Smith and Pinkett Smith in the commercial breaks that followed, and one of them hugged Smith, while Nicole Kidman also went over to say a few words.

If anyone wanted to discuss the Rock-Smith incident, it was hard to find a place to do it.

Ahmir said he was not talking about that, but Thompson, the director of Summer of Soul, which won an Oscar.

Pinkett Smith was the subject of jokes from Rock when he hosted the Oscars. She didn't attend the Oscars because of a lack of diversity among award nominees and how Black artists were not properly represented.

Will Smith said he was hoping the Academy would invite him back.

There is a

Visit the AP's Oscar coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/academy-awards.

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