At the 2022 Oscars, Chris Rock made a joke about Will Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, saying, "Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can't wait to see it," referring to Jada's shaved head due to alopecia, comparing it to the shaved head of Demi Moore's character in the movie G.I. Jane. This joke provoked Will Smith to walk on stage and slap Chris Rock. Afterward, Smith shouted, "Keep my wife's name out of your f ing mouth!" to Rock. Chris Rock responded calmly, "Wow... dude. It was a G.I. Jane joke," and later said, "Will Smith just smacked the s out of me" on stage.
Chris Rock also later joked in a Netflix special about the incident, saying, "Anybody that say words hurt has never been punched in the face," acknowledging that the slap did hurt physically.
In summary, what Chris Rock said directly to Will Smith after being slapped was his initial joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, followed by surprised remarks and the recognition of the slap on stage, while Will Smith's response was an intense demand to keep his wife's name out of the comedian's mouth. This exchange became one of the most talked-about moments on television.
