Chris Rock shares rare reflection on Will Smith Oscars slap 4 years later: 'Not that important'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: It’s been 4 years since one of the most talked-about and infamous moments in Oscars history, when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage. The incident sparked endless speculation and discussion, but both Rock and Smith have largely remained quiet about what happened.
Now, after 4 long years, Rock has finally offered a rare comment about the infamous moment. During a recent interview, Rock said the on-stage incident is “not that important” in a “crazy world.” Taking a different approach while reflecting on the incident, the comedian also said he wished “nothing would have happened.”
Has Rock truly moved past the infamous Oscars moment? Well, that may be a question for another day. He made these comments during an interview about his upcoming directorial film, 'Misty Green'.
Chris Rock reflects on Will Smith’s infamous Oscars slap 4 years later
During an interview with Variety, Rock gave a blunt response when asked how he feels about the incident in which Will Smith slapped him on stage during the 2022 Oscars ceremony.
Rock said, “Hey, man. You know, to answer your question a little bit, I wish nothing would have happened.”
The comedian then shifted his attention to his new directorial project, 'Misty Green', saying, “I don’t want to say anything that takes any attention away from Rosalind and how good she is in this movie.” Rosalind Eleazar plays the protagonist in the film.
Rock went on to put the incident into perspective, saying, “It’s a crazy world. We walk by homeless people. There’s all sorts going on right now. Me having a bad day is not the biggest. It’s not that important.”
The Oscars incident appears to have had a lasting impact on Rock, who has not returned to the ceremony since the 2022 incident. For now, it seems he has no plans to attend the Oscars again unless he is nominated.
“I’m not getting nominated. The only way I’ll go back is if I’m nominated, and I’m not getting nominated,” he said. “And that’s OK. We’ll deal with that if it happens. Like, let’s manage expectations.”
Interestingly, Rock’s upcoming directorial venture also touches on a similar theme. 'Misty Green' follows a woman who smacks her colleague, while Rock plays a character who must decide whether he can forgive her.
Chris Rock’s infamous Oscars slap remains one of Hollywood’s biggest moments
Was the Oscars slap real — or was everyone watching one of the most convincing bits ever pulled off on live television?
— Emotion & Music (@Emotion78687) September 8, 2026
Chris Rock makes the joke. Will Smith laughs.
Then Smith looks toward Jada Pinkett Smith. Her expression changes. A few seconds later, he is walking onto the… pic.twitter.com/a2yRr3ZEtm
Speaking about the infamous slap, Smith's sudden move left the audience stunned as he walked onto the stage and slapped Rock. The moment was so unexpected that many initially wondered whether it was staged. “Wow... Will Smith just smacked me,” Rock eventually exclaimed.
The incident happened after Rock joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head while presenting at the ceremony. After being slapped, Smith returned to his seat and shouted at Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out of your mouth.”
Following the incident, Smith was banned from attending Academy events for 10 years. The shocking moment quickly became known as “the slap heard around the world” and remains one of the most talked-about moments in Oscars history.
