Serena Williams posts stunned reaction to Will Smith slap on social media

Serena Williams was as stunned as the rest of us when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock, posting her immediate reaction to social media.

It was one of the most shocking moments in the history of live television, and in the aftermath, 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams was all of us.

The New York Post reports Williams posted her stunned reaction to her Instagram story after Will Smith walked on stage in the middle of the 2022 Oscars and slapped Chris Rock in the face after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

The first clip Williams shared on social media featured several seconds of the tennis legend at the awards ceremony in stunned silence, mouth open, not saying anything. In the second video, she said” “I just sat down, because I was like, I gotta put that drink down.”

Serena Williams weighs in on her Insta story:#Oscars

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The wild moment occurred near the end of the show as Rock was preparing to present the nominees for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. The camera flashed to Pinkett Smith, and Rock said: “Jada, love you. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.”

The reference was to the 1997 film with Demi Moore, where her character shaves her head and joins a special forces group in the military. Jada, who suffers from a condition that causes hair loss, appeared to take exception to the joke, causing Smith to react by walking on stage and slapping Rock across the face.

American television censored much of the exchange, but in uncensored footage, Smith is heard yelling: “Keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth” multiple times.

The moment that shocked the world. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)

Rock was clearly stunned in real time. So was Williams, who was being honoured as a part of the movie King Richard, which chronicles her father, Richard Williams, who coached the tennis champion and her sister Venus as they rose through the ranks to become two of the most famous and decorated players in the sport’s history.

Smith plays the titular character in the movie, and in stunning fashion, won the Oscar for Best Actor minutes after the exchange with Rock.

Serena and Venus were both in attendance for the Oscars and the camera panned to them several times both during the ceremony and after Smith’s slap as he took centre stage to give his acceptance speech.

The Williams sisters both attended the Vanity Fair after-party, and were photographed mingling and enjoying themselves.

The Williams sisters were living it up. (Photo by Al Seib/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images)

Serena poses for photographers at the Vanity Fair after-party. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)

Venus was by her sister’s side. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)

“Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,” Smith said in his speech. “In this time in my life, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world.

“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.

“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.”

This article was first published on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission