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STAGE FIGHT
WILL Smith’s attack on Chris Rock at the Oscars may have been staged as the comic didn’t go down when he was hit, a body language expert claims.
Judi James told The Sun that Rock, 57, didn’t “nurse his face” when he was targeted at Sunday night’s star-studded Academy Awards ceremony.
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The altercation happened after the comic tried to joke: “Jada, I love you, G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it" - a reference to the 1997 movie GI Jane.
Demi Moore famously shaved her head, but Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who struggles with alopecia, decided to remove her hair permanently.
Smith, 53, initially chuckled at Rock’s remarks before striking the ex Saturday Night Live star in the face.
James said that Rock “reeled” to one side after he was slapped.
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She added: “Will is a big guy and I would have expected Chris to hit the floor, even if it was just from shock.
“Chris’s apparent lack of ‘hurt’ response was probably what caused many people to believe they were watching a stunt.”
As the altercation unfolded at the star-studded ceremony, Twitters users commented online that they thought the attack was staged.
One commented: “That Will Smith/Chris Rock s**t looked staged as hell for some reason.
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“That joke didn’t have that much substance for that much reaction. Sumtn ain’t right (sic).”
Another posted: “The whole Will Smith thing looked a bit staged to me.
“Chris Rock leaving in waiting for the slap. Will Smiths smirk on his way back to his seat after the ‘slap’.
“The slap itself didn’t even look like it really landed.”
Skeptics said Rock and Smith had "pulled off the work of the decade".
Some commented that Smith was going to deliver a “believable performance” particularly as he was up for the Best Actor nomination at this year's Oscars.
'CAUSING CHAOS'
The Men in Black star appeared to brag about causing chaos - hours before slapping Rock.
He and Jada pulled a series of funny faces in a behind-the-scenes video ahead of the awards show.
The couple smiled as they wrapped their arms at each other, before grinning at the camera.
They pulled mock scowls and stuck their tongues out at the camera.
Their antics were set to the sound of someone saying: "Good morning everyone.
"God has let me live another day. And I am about to make it everyone's problem."
Will posted the clip on Instagram on Sunday, captioning it: "Me ‘n @jadapinkettsmith got all dressed up to choose chaos."
Fans online are split regarding how genuine the attack was.
James said that Rock didn’t spot the apparent “danger signs” from the Hollywood A-Lister - but revealed that the comic didn't expect to be hit.
She added: “With a large man approaching you to deliver a hard, swiping slap you’d bring your arms up in an act of self-defense, probably even more so if you were doing a rehearsed, stunt performance.
“But Chris kept his hands clasped behind his back and was laughing as though expecting nothing more than some banter.”
James noted how Smith’s wife Jada gave an eye-roll and a “stare of undiluted disapproval” when Rock was trying to crack the joke.
Smith appeared to be laughing before his reactions changed.
James added: “We didn’t see the moment he spotted Jada’s response but it must have been chilling to prompt such an about-turn in Will’s behavior.”
'NOT MEANT TO HAPPEN'
Rock’s ill-timed joke was apparently an ad-lib.
"Someone who works for the Oscars told me that Chris Rock was not interrupted by Will Smith at rehearsals yesterday. It was not supposed to happen," a source revealed. "It was real."
Smith later accepted the Best Actor gong for his role in the 2021 movie King Richard where he played Richard Williams.
He is the father of legendary tennis duo Venus and Serena and his story has been profiled in the movie.
Smith opened his acceptance speech with a tense voice, explaining: "Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family."
The actor fought back tears throughout his address.
He apologized to the Academy and his nominees but didn’t mention Rock.
The star said: "Art imitates life, I look like the crazy father, just like what they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things."
In response to the evening, Jaden Smith, 23, wrote: “And that’s how we do it” as fans slammed his famous dad.
It wasn’t the first time Rock has aimed jibes at Jada.
Reports have since surfaced that Smith was “mad” about a dig made by Rock in 2016.
Chris suggested in his speech at the time that Jada couldn't snub the Oscars that year because she hadn't been invited in the first place.
He said: "What happened this year? Spike went mad. Jada got mad. Will got mad. Everybody got mad."
He went on: "Jada got mad? Jada says she's not coming. Protesting. Isn't she on a TV show? Jada's going to boycott the Oscars?
“Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties. I wasn’t invited.”
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A source told People: "When Chris hosted the Oscars in 2016, Jada was boycotting because of 'Oscars So White.'
"In his monologue, he made fun of her, saying she can't boycott something she wasn't invited to. Will was still mad about that."
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