Jada Pinkett Smith seen laughing after Chris Rock slap, fueling controversy

New video from the 2022 Oscars has viewers asking even more questions about Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s true reactions to Chris Rock’s joke about Pinkett Smith’s bald head, which the “King Richard” star used to justify slapping the comedian on stage during the live telecast.

Footage taken from the floor of the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, by someone apparently seated behind Jada Pinkett Smith, shows that she appears to be laughing at her husband’s scuffle with Rock. The best actor winner faces “disciplinary proceedings” over the slap, as well as his alleged refusal to leave the ceremony when asked.

A viral TikTok video shows that Pinkett Smith seems to almost bend over giggling as Smith makes his way back to his seat after hitting Rock. Maybe, like many others in the theater, Pinkett Smith was in shock and reacted with nervous laughter. Or maybe she somehow thought her husband’s attack was some kind of comedy bit.

But Rock tries to keep his composure as he lets the world know what just happened. He said: “Will Smith just smacked the (expletive) out of me.” Things get tense again after Smith yells, “Keep my wife’s name out of your (expletive) mouth.”

Rock replies: “Wow, dude. It was a G.I. joke.” Smith responds by screaming his demand again.

@TMZLive this video shows Jada Pinkett Smith laughing right after Will Smith assaulted Chris Rock pic.twitter.com/t7uRLIhovi

— llumilca (@llumilca2) March 30, 2022

Smith later said that Rock incited his anger when he joked about Pinkett Smith starring in “G.I. Jane 2.” The joke referred to the film starring Demi Moore as a female Navy SEAL who shaves her hair. Pinkett Smith has been open about her struggles with alopecia, a medical condition that causes one’s hair to fall out.

Rock reportedly didn’t know about Pinkett Smith’s condition when he made the joke, but many women have said since that it’s always offensive to joke about a woman’s appearance and, in particular, a Black woman’s hair, given Black women’s fraught relationship with their hair.

The new video clip will also raise questions about whether Smith’s attack on Rock was a performative and paternalistic display of ego and machismo, rather than an impulsive, but misguided, emotional response to a loved one being insulted.

In footage of the ceremony that’s already been widely seen, Smith was seen initially laughing at Rock’s “G.I. Jane” joke, while Pinkett Smith rolled her eyes. To some observers, these responses showed that Smith also thought the joke was funny until he realized his wife was mad.

Did anyone else realize that Will Smith was laughing at the joke until Jada gave him the side eye? pic.twitter.com/vwvo5U1Ayf

— char (@charvontay1) March 28, 2022

That’s when Smith decided to play the “Big Man” and protect her honor, as if she’s a “damsel in distress” and can’t take care of herself, as NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said in a blog post.

During Smith’s somewhat rambling acceptance speech for best actor, which Abdul-Jabbar and others called self-serving, the “King Richard” star expressed regret to the Academy that he had lost control. The actor tearfully said he wanted to “apologize to the Academy and fellow nominees,” then tried to justify his actions by saying, “Love will make you do crazy things.”

The next day, Smith formally apologized to Rock, his fellow nominees and the Academy on social media. He said, “My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear, and I reacted emotionally. I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed, and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be.”

Pinkett Smith wrote on Instagram Tuesday: “This is a season for healing and I’m here for it.”

Discussion had begun about Smith’s level of remorse or understanding of the upset he caused when reports emerged Monday morning about how he, his wife and children attended the Vanity Fair Oscars party. There, according to reports, Smith “held court” and danced and rapped to his own classic songs. He also was embraced and congratulated by Lupita Nyong’o, Lena Waithe, Trevor Noah and other celebrities.

At the party, Pinkett Smith told The Hollywood Reporter: “It’s been a beautiful night.” The couple’s son, Jaden Smith, also took to Twitter shortly after the attack Sunday to defend his father, writing: “And that’s how we do it,” The Sun reported.

A few hours later, Smith added a caption to an earlier Instagram post, in which he seemed to make light of his attack on Rock, according to Page Six said. He wrote, “You can’t invite people from Philly or Baltimore nowhere!!” Smith was referring to his roots in Pennsylvania and his wife’s in Maryland.

The Academy announced Wednesday that its Board of Governors “initiated disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, including inappropriate physical contact, abusive or threatening behavior, and compromising the integrity of the Academy.”

In a statement, the Academy also called Smith’s actions “a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television.” The Academy furthermore expressed regret that Smith controversially remained in the Dolby Theatre for about 40 minutes before he was named best actor for his performance in “King Richard,” for which he received a standing ovation.

The Academy said that possible disciplinary action against Smith could include “suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct.”