Will Smith's brutal smack of Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars ceremony was a "choreographed Hollywood display", one body language expert says.
Celebrity psychic and body language expert Inbaal Honigman has explained that the incident comes off as a "back-slapping display" which saw the two men appear "dignified" and "leisurely" - at least on the surface.
In the now viral clip, Chris aimed a joke at Will's wife Jada Pinkett Smith, suggesting she could star in the G.I. Jane sequel after opting to shave her head during her battle with alopecia.
A furious Will stormed onto the stage, cuffed Chris across the face and retreated, yelling at him to: "Keep my wife's name out of your f***ing mouth!"
Stunned, Chris later said: "Will Smith just smacked the s**t out of me."
However, some fans were sure the incident was just a skit - despite Will's teary-eyed apology during his acceptance speech for Best Actor in the flick King Richard.
Inbaal seems to support those claims, at least when viewing the video with the audio off.
She explained to Daily Star: "Body language analysis is not an exact science - in some situations people would consciously decide to project a certain persona, and along with their voice, their breathing and the stance they decide to adopt in the moment, their entire body language could be telling one story, while their emotions tell another."
Inbaal added: "Will Smith's walk towards Chris Rock seems leisurely. The smack barely throws Rock's head back, even though it is aimed squarely towards his cheek.
"Chris Rock's hands in his pockets throughout don't exactly show a man going into self-defence mode."
She added that his "signature smile never leaves his face", while Will opts for "measured facial movements" which appear "dignified".
Inbaal said: "For me, this was a choreographed, back-slapping, Hollywood display."
She also points to both actors' careers in the showbiz industry as a signal they could simply be faking, pointing out: "Smith is a lifelong actor and performer, having left the Fresh Prince in the 90s, and gone on to win multiple awards for his acting. He could deliver the line beautifully whether he meant it or not.
"Rock is a groundbreaking comedian, working the stand-up circuit since his teens. If he's walking across the stage just saying 'Wow!', maybe that's his line, maybe he's waiting for applause."
However, a key to the entire mystery could be held in their eyes.
Inbaal explained: "When Rock first delivers the G.I Jane joke, Jada Pinkett-Smith rolls her eyes very briefly, and very warily. She looks like she's been waiting for a joke about her cropped hair all night.
"This seems genuine, annoyed, and barely perceptible to the naked eye. This quick gesture isn't trying to get a reaction from anyone, just to communicate a quick moment of emotion to her husband of 25 years. I believe the scene was not, in fact, staged."
She added: "Furthermore, Will Smith's eyes are red and damp when he's calling out to the comedian to lay off his wife.
"Even though actors can create those effects with their bodies, it seems a long way to go just for a planned joke. Those red eyes suggest to me, that his emotion is raw and truthful."
During his acceptance speech, this only becomes more evident - but Inbaal adds that it is Will Smith's "brand".
She said: "Dabbing at his eyes can be done elegantly on stage... but the superstar has to keep wiping at his nose, which I'm sure nobody wants to have to do in front of an audience of over 10 million people.
"At the very end of his speech, when he starts to make jokes, his eyes are still tearful.
"Will Smith built his entire appeal on being genuine. A sincere, God loving family man. This moment seems fully on-brand."
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