# Reactions to the 2022 Oscars incident

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/reactions-to-the-2022-oscars-incident
> Updated: 2026-09-08T17:26:57.000Z. Sources: 28. Developments: 2.

Reactions and reflections continue to emerge regarding the 2022 Oscars incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, a co-star from ‘King Richard’, expressed support for Smith, stating, “I know that he wanted to protect his wife.” She further argued that free speech protections should not be used as an excuse to cause harm.

In a subsequent interview, Chris Rock remarked that while he wishes “nothing would have happened,” the event is “not that important” relative to global issues. Rock indicated he would only return to the Academy Awards if personally nominated for an award, though he does not intend to host the ceremony again.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-08: Chris Rock sets condition for Oscars return following Will Smith incident

Chris Rock says he would only return to the Oscars if nominated and views the 2022 slap incident as “not that important” while promoting his new directorial film, “Misty Green.”

28 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chris-rock-discusses-oscars-incident-and-potential-return-to-academy-awards

### 2026-08-13: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor defends Will Smith regarding 2022 Oscars incident

‘King Richard’ co-star Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor defended Will Smith regarding his 2022 Oscars slap of Chris Rock, stating she understands his desire to protect his wife and questioning the limits of First Amendm-

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/aunjanue-ellis-taylor-defends-will-smith-regarding-2022-oscars-incident

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Cite as: Reactions to the 2022 Oscars incident. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/reactions-to-the-2022-oscars-incident