Will Smith and Chris Rock are quietly exploring the possibility of sitting down together for a televised conversation with ABC News, according to people familiar with the discussions. If it comes together, the interview would be their first shared public appearance since the confrontation at the Academy Awards that unsettled Hollywood and rippled far beyond it. Representatives for both men have declined to comment, and the network has not announced details. Still, the prospect of seeing them across from each other again has stirred immediate interest.
The 2022 Oscars broadcast veered off script when Smith walked onto the stage and struck Rock after a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. The moment landed with a thud inside the Dolby Theatre and traveled instantly across television screens and smartphones. Not long after, Smith returned to his seat and later accepted the Academy Award for Best Actor for “King Richard,” delivering remarks that competed with the shock still hanging in the room.
A First Direct Conversation Since the Oscars Incident
In the hours and days that followed, Smith issued a public apology to Rock and the Academy, describing his actions as “unacceptable and inexcusable.” The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences subsequently barred him from its events for 10 years. Rock addressed the episode sparingly during stand-up performances, including a 2023 Netflix special, where he offered his perspective without speaking directly to Smith.
A joint interview, if finalized, would offer something neither man has yet attempted: a direct exchange in real time. It could provide clarity about how they have processed a moment that became cultural shorthand for the volatility of live television. ABC News has not announced an air date.
