Will Smith shocked the Oscars 2022 audience, and everyone watching at home, when he slapped comedian Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
The slap was heard around the world, triggering an array of reactions online.
“With a single petulant blow, he advocated violence, diminished women, insulted the entertainment industry, and perpetuated stereotypes about the Black community,” NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar published on his Stubstack titled “Will Smith Did a Bad, Bad Thing.”