Actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock after the latter made a joke about Will's wife Jada Smith's bald head.

When preparing to announce the Best Documentary Oscar at the 94th Academy Awards, comedian Chris Rock heckled the couple Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith in the audience and referred to the actress' hairless head.

At the moment of the joke, Jada made an expression of who had been annoyed. Will Smith got up from his chair in the front row, from where he was following the ceremony, and went straight to the center of the stage, where Chris Rock was making a presentation. Without uttering a word, Smith simply slapped Chris in the face with his right arm. Without losing his elegance, he resumed his seat.

In disbelief, Rock didn't seem to understand the reason for the slap, and with an undisguised perplexed smile, he mumbled, "Will Smith just slapped me in the face. The audience was also incredulous and, after the event, did not understand if this was a pre-programmed scene, as is typical of actors, or if it was something serious. It was serious, very serious. Smith later referred to what had happened.

Before that, already in his seat in the audience, Will Smith, his face heavy with anger had time to utter some obscene words of warning.

""Keep my wife's name out of your fucking mouth," Smith yelled, twice.

The broadcast in the US, which always has a delay of a few seconds to avoid obscenities live in prime time, was reportedly quickly put on mute to avoid hearing the swear words.

Chris Rock kept his cool until he finished presenting the award, which was given to Questlove for Summer of Soul.

Minutes later, Will Smith received the Oscar for Best Actor for his interpretation of the father of sisters Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard: Beyond the Game. His victory speech was also a reflection on the moment he had just starred in.