ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith held nothing back with his hot take on Will Smith’s behavior at the 94th Academy Awards Sunday when the actor slapped comedian Chris Rock during the live broadcast over a poorly received joke at the expense of wife Jada Pinkett Smith; “I mean damn, come on bro.”
It was only hours after the incident had taken place that Stephen A. Smith let loose on the Best Actor winner for disrespecting himself and the people involved with putting the event together. “What Will Smith did tonight was straight bullsh*t.”
There’s no excuse for that, Will Smith. pic.twitter.com/v8u8PtQRMX
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 28, 2022
Noting the achievement by the actor who won an Oscar for his portrayal of Richard Williams, father to tennis players Venus and Serena Williams in “King Richard,” he stated, “Props and congratulations to him for winning the Oscar because, damn it, he deserved it. And I love the brother and I’m proud of him.” But Smith insisted there was no excuse, adding, “but boy was that a shameful act for him to commit tonight.”
“To go up on stage and slap Chris Rock like that, he’s lucky he didn’t get his a** kicked, particularly after the event was over. But not by Chris Rock, to the fellas he had there with him,” the ESPN host continued.”
Following the moment in which Will Smith seemingly slapped Chris Rock at the #Oscars, Smith is comforted by Tyler Perry and Denzel Washington. He appears to wipe away tears before rejoining his wife pic.twitter.com/TyXPQe1WGY
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 28, 2022
“I mean damn, Denzel and Bradley Cooper and Tyler Perry having to calm you down,” Smith said incredulously to the consolation the actor needed after his acceptance speech. “Your publicist having to run out there and calm you down. I mean damn, come on bro. Come on man.”
“There’s no excuse for it ladies and gentleman, don’t even try to justify it, ok,” he remarked as social media was flooded with people taking sides over the televised assault.
“Chris Rock said it years ago, every time black folks doin’ something you know who messes it up,” Smith lamented of what this ultimately might mean. “I never dreamed in my wildest dreams I’d be saying that about Will Smith.”
“A black man, Will Packer, did a phenomenal job producing the Oscars and you do this to stain yourself?” To stain the Academy Awards?” he asked with his questions seemingly posed directly at the actor whom he was taking to task.
“Damn,” was Smith’s solemn conclusion to the behavior that Will Smith put on display and, presumably, to those he may have influenced with his reprehensible outburst over what was meant to be a harmless joke.
The ESPN commentator also took to Twitter with his criticism, calling out the actor for the “Horrible look” at the award show.
Didn’t know until just this moment about @jadapsmith having Alopecia. She’s wonderful and great. So is @willsmith — which we all know. They’re both phenomenal. But you do NOT do what Will did in that setting. Go backstage and handle that shit if you must. Horrible look!
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 28, 2022
He also called out the “Total BS” on display.
Total BS by @willsmith. If his night is ruined because of this he deserves it. The man has Denzel & Bradley Cooper trying to calm him down. For what? A joke about his wife in G.I. Joe? Come on! The shit was embarrassing! A very very bad look! Love Will. But not after this B.S.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 28, 2022
Unfortunately, Stephen A. Smith’s ire was directed at the wrong Will Smith on Twitter. Turns out, he tagged the account of another with the same name who is actually a podcaster and video game designer based in San Francisco, California who describes himself as “notthatwillsmith” in his bio.
That Will Smith seemed to be caught completely off guard but still responded to the mention.
Real talk, I’m not the person you’re upset/happy with. I make podcasts and video games for a living.
At the risk of making people pissed off at me instead of that other guy, the world would be a better place if we stopped answering words with violence.
— Will Smith (@willsmith) March 28, 2022
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
- Rogan fired up that liberal policies are allowing monsters to eat our house pets - December 17, 2025
- Customer bullies Target employee over Charlie Kirk shirt, but it doesn’t go quite as planned - December 17, 2025
- Merrick Garland lied about Mar-a-Lago raid recently declassified emails show - December 17, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
19 thoughts on “ESPN host unloads on Will Smith: He made black men look bad, ‘no excuse … he’s lucky he didn’t get his a** kicked’”
Comments are closed.
You know that slapping thing might just SAVE the Oscars!! Next year you call out the nominees and they get in a MMA Cage – The Winner will be the who walks out of the cage!! I wouldn’t watch to give them ratings, but I’d watch the videos later!!
He better be glad that wasn’t the Ricky Gervais!! That pint sized can of whopoass would have been on him so quick!!
Joggers gonna jog. Get rid of this garbage comment system. Even if you subscribe to receive notifications of replies, which you shouldn’t have to do, you still don’t get notifications. I don’t anyway. Great job killing your own comment section.
Don’t fall for the BS. This was a staged stunt which still not help the ratings.
Haven’t watched the Oscars this century. I’d rather spend that precious time doing something more entertaining, like catching up on the latest Joe Brainfart gaffes on the Ukraine invasion.
Neither have I!!
The Oscar’s haven’t been worth watching in decades!!!
I don’t see this trend ending time soon!!
Actually it looks like Rock did not even get hit, or he took that slap with no noticeable mark on his face, and reacted verbally almost instantaneously, not even touching his face, which is odd?? It just showed the world the gutter language and violence Blacks in this country always resort to, no matter how rich and famous. Black culture with all their 4 letter words, violence, pathetic rap music, “prison fashion” of pants hanging down to their knees, “gangsta” actions, and all the other bad things black culture today identifies with-have had nothing but a negative effect on our society and young people. MLK must be weeping in his grave to see the direction his people have taken.
What makes “black men look bad” is the admiring focus on Will Smith’s immature anger. Why isn’t there a whole lot more talk about Rock’s not hitting back, or Denzel Washington telling Smith that “he needs to be careful” and why? The mature black men, who won’t get down in Will Smith’s gutter should be what we are talking about. Not the temper tantrum.
“No charges at this time” (((SHOCKED!!!)))not.
What the hell is this doing on ESPN, anyway. Unless Smith vs. Rock is in the Octagon.
“He made black men look bad”. Smith…have you been taking a dump for the last two years. Black men have been destroying our cities, running smash and grabs, assaulting white folk on the streets and subways, been burning down their neighborhoods, accusing every white guy alive of racism, demanding reparations…. “He made black men look bad”?
Well stated!!
Smith just did it on a formerly major show. Otherwise it was what the rest of us know about black men in general, they have no problem hitting someone substantially smaller. It’s not a fluke, it’s not a stereotype, it’s a pattern of behavior I have noticed since school busing!
1000 👍
The Oscar’s will use this incident as cover for the lie they’ll tell regarding how many people supposedly watched the show. It was 3, by the way.
Can’t wait to see the statistics on how many people watched the Oscars. I did not. I get enough politics every day from other sources.
“Damn,” was Smith’s solemn conclusion to the behavior that Will Smith put on display and, presumably, to those he may have influenced with his reprehensible outburst over what was meant to be a harmless joke.
I could not agree more. Will Smith just ponied up with an act that shows what a thug he is. The man had no call to assault Chris Rock for a joke that NEVER at any time was derogatory or harmful to his wife. Yet he perceived it that way and therefore was reason enough to assault someone on live television. Not that I have or ever will watch a bunch of spoiled rich brats vie for who can lie the best.
What an act! Then he put on another act with the tears.
Weirdowood will put up with it and The Academy probably will too! Pretty soon, if not already, the only people that will be watching this again will be the holly-weird. Useless POS!