Will Smith accepts the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for “King Richard” onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022.
Robyn Beck | Afp | Getty Images
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was hoping that moviegoers would be riveted by surprises at Sunday’s Oscars ceremony. But they probably didn’t bank on a physical confrontation between two superstars.
The academy was hoping that movie lovers would unite and spark an uptick in ratings for the 94th Academy Awards. Late into the ceremony, however, comedian Chris Rock told a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s hair, which prompted her spouse, Will Smith, to march up to the stage and smack Rock while he was about to present the best documentary award. ABC cut out the mics just as the two started shouting at each other, but uncensored international feeds picked up the two stars yelling profanities at each other.
Moments later, Smith won the Oscar for Best Actor and apologized to the academy and his fellow nominees. “Love will make you do crazy things,” he said.
The confrontation was a shocking turn in another otherwise subdued show that featured largely predictable but nonetheless historic results. With the diversity in this year’s crop of Oscar nominees, audiences saw a number of milestones set.
- “CODA” was the first film produced by a streaming service to win Best Picture. It won three overall.
- Ariana DeBose became the first queer Black woman to win an acting award, taking home Best Supporting Actress for “West Side Story.”
- Troy Kotsur of “CODA” became the first deaf man to win an Academy Award for acting.
“Dune” won the most awards, with six.
The trio of Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes assumed hosting duties during Sunday’s ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. For the last three years, the show has not had a host.
Here is the full list of winners:
Best Picture: “CODA”
Best Actress: Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
Best Actor: Will Smith, “King Richard”
Best Director: Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”
Best Original Song: “No Time to Die”
Best Documentary Feature: “Summer of Soul”
Best Adapted Screenplay: “CODA”
Best Original Screenplay: “Belfast”
Best Costume Design: “Cruella”
Best International Feature: “Drive My Car”
Best Supporting Actor: Troy Kotsur, “CODA”
Best Animated Feature: “Encanto”
Best Visual Effects: “Dune”
Best Cinematography: “Dune”
Best Supporting Actress: Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story”
Best Film Editing: “Dune”
Best Score: “Dune”
Best Sound: “Dune”
Best Production Design: “Dune”
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
Best: Documentary (Short Subject): “The Queen of Basketball.”
Best Short (Animated): “The Windshield Wiper.”
Best Short Film (Live Action): “The Long Goodbye.”