Will Smith strikes Chris Rock in viral Oscars moment

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith on the red carpet at the 94th annual Oscars, where Smith won best actor

Actor Will Smith stormed the Oscars stage and struck comedian Chris Rock across the face for joking about his wife, in a moment at Sunday's gala that immediately went viral -- and left attendees and viewers stunned.

Rock, presenting the best documentary prize with a short comedy routine, had cracked a joke comparing Jada Pinkett Smith's tightly cropped hair to Demi Moore's appearance in the film "G.I. Jane" and suggested she appear in a sequel.

"Keep my wife's name out of your fucking mouth," yelled Smith, forcing the producers to bleep out several seconds of audio from the televised broadcast in the United States.

"If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report," read the department statement obtained by AFP.

"Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world."

Pinkett Smith, who is also an actress, suffers from alopecia, and publicly revealed her diagnosis in 2018.

Then, rapper and producer Sean "Diddy" Combs, presenting the next section, said: "Will and Chris, we're going to solve that like family. Right now, we're moving on with love."

With tears running down his cheeks, Smith said that "Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family," and that "art imitates life."

"I'm hoping the Academy invites me back," Smith said after apologizing to event organizers and his fellow nominees.

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