Will Smith wins Best Actor after slapping Chris Rock at Oscars

Will Smith has won his first Oscar, forcing him to address the shocking moment he stormed on stage and hit Chris Rock in the face.

Will Smith has won the Oscar for best actor for his leading role in King Richard, after sensationally slapping Chris Rock on stage.

Smith began the acceptance speech for his first Oscar by saying “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family” and ended it with “I hope the Academy invites me back”.

The star shared a kiss with wife Jada Pinkett-Smith before taking to the stage, red-eyed and tearful, his voice shaking.

“Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,” Smith began, speaking of Venus and Serena Williams’ father he plays in the biopic.

“In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what god is calling on me to do and be in this world.”

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Will Smith has won the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for King Richard. Picture: Robyn Beck / AFP

Weeping, he took several long pauses – but was never played off stage, as everyone waited to hear what was coming.

“In this film I got to protect Aunjanue Ellis who was one the most strongest, the most delicate people I’ve ever met. I got to protect Saniyya and Demi, the two actresses that played Venus and Serena,” he continued.

The crowd applauded as Smith took a break before he went on, struggling to get his words out.

“I’m being called on in my life, to love people and to protect people. And to be a river to my people,” he said with tears streaming down his cheeks.

“I know to do what we do, you’ve got to be able to take abuse. You’ve got to be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business you’ve got to be able to have people disrespecting you and you’ve got to smile and you’ve got to pretend that’s OK.”

Smith had tears streaming down his face during his acceptance speech. Picture: Seven

“Denzel said to me a few minutes ago, he said ‘At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you,’” Will continued, attracting another round of applause.

“I want to be a vessel for love. I want to say thank you to Venus and Serena and the entire Williams family for entrusting me with your story. That’s what I want to do. I want to be an ambassador of that kind of love and care and concern.

“I want to apologise to the Academy, I want to apologise to all my fellow nominees.

“This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award. It’s not about winning an award for me. It’s about being able to shine a light on all the people … and the entire cast and crew of King Richard, and Venus and Serena and the entire Williams family.

“Art imitates life, I look like the crazy father just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things.”

Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith. Picture: Angela Weiss / AFP

Smith finished with thanking his loved ones.

“A lot of this moment is really complicated for me, but to my mother … she didn't want to come out, she had her knitting friends. She has a knitting crew that she’s in Philly watching it with. Being able to love and care for my mother, my family, my wife … I’m taking up to much time.

“Thank you for this honour. Thank you for this moment. And thank you on behalf of Richard and the entire Williams family. Thank you. I hope the Academy invites me back.”

But Smith did not offer an apology to Rock.

Upon returning to the microphone after an earlier sketch where she was dressed as Spider-Man, Oscars co-host Amy Schumer joked: “I’ve been getting out of the Spider-Man costume … did I miss anything?

“There’s, like, a different vibe in here. Probably not … well anyway.”

Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith. Picture: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Smith’s acceptance speech came after presenter Rock made a joke about Pinkett-Smith, seemingly based off the fact she had a shaved head.

“Jada, I love ya. G.I Jane 2, can’t wait to see it,” Rock said in a series of jokes.

Actress Demi Moore famously shaved her head for the 1997 film G.I. Jane.

Pinkett-Smith has been open with her struggles with alopecia areata, an auto-immune disorder that leads to hair loss.

The camera cut to Pinkett-Smith and Smith in the audience, where Smith was seen laughing but his wife was visibly unimpressed and rolled her eyes.

The crowd laughed, with Rock adding: “That was a nice one!”.

Suddenly, Smith was storming on to the stage to confront Rock, with the comedian saying “uh oh” as he watched Smith come toward him.

The audience continued to laugh, and so did Rock, obviously not understanding Smith’s actions were not in good fun.

The audience thought the whole ordeal was a joke before falling silent when Smith screamed at Rock after going back to his seat. Picture: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Smith smacked Rock right in the face so hard the hit could be heard by viewers at home. He then casually walked off the stage and the audience continued to cheer, thinking it was set up.

“Oh wow, Will Smith just smacked the s**t out of me,” Rock then said, prompting more laughter.

From his seat, Smith then shouted “get my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth” with a very stern expression.

“Wow dude, it was a G.I Jane joke,” Rock said, still standing on stage.

The audience was silent went Smith shouted even louder: “Keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth.”

Rock, clearly uncomfortable, said “I’m going to OK”, before adding “that was the greatest night in the history of television”.

He then went on to present the award for best documentary feature.

Originally published as Will Smith wins Best Actor after slapping Chris Rock at Oscars