An awkward and disturbing moment between Chris Rock and Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars left a lot of viewers – both in the audience and at home – confused and wondering what the heck just happened.

Chris Rock was on stage to announce the nominees for best documentary. The award presentation was delayed quite a bit, however, as Rock made what appeared to be an off-the-cuff joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, an actor, singer and the wife of actor Will Smith.

It all started with what seemed to be a planned joke about how Javier Bardem, of “Being the Ricardos,” and Will Smith of “King Richard,” were up against each other in the category for best actor in a leading role.

“You know who’s got the hardest job tonight,” Rock asked. “Javier Bardem and his wife are both nominated.”

Bardem’s wife is Penélope Cruz, who was nominated for Best Actress for “Parallel Mothers.”

“If she loses, he can’t win,” Rock said. “He is praying that Will Smith wins.”

That led Rock to turn to Pinkett Smith, who wasn’t nominated.

“Jada, I love ya, ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it,” Rock said next, appearing to make a comment on Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, which was the style worn by Demi Moore in the 1997 film, “G.I. Jane.”

Smith laughed at first, but Pinkett Smith looked unhappy.

“That was a nice one,” Rock said, defending the joke.

Then, Smith came on stage and slapped Rock, a moment that confused many as to whether it was real or staged.

As a portion of the incident had been bleeped, the audience at home had no idea what to make of the scene.

Many people inside the Dolby are stunned by the Will Smith / Chris Rock moment. It’s surreal that the show is continuing on as if nothing happened.

— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) March 28, 2022

me after watching whatever tf happened between chris rock and will smith pic.twitter.com/5348knfum2

— my (@myr2pro) March 28, 2022

Some pointed out that when Rock hosted the Oscars in 2016, he made a joke about Pinkett’s boycott of the Oscars for a lack of representation of people of color in the nominations. He said that she wasn’t invited anyway.

Worth remembering that back in 2016, when Chris Rock hosted the Oscars, he also then mocked Jada Pinkett Smith for her video saying she was boycotting the ceremony because of the awards lack of diversity https://t.co/iQ6plosod2

— lizo mzimba (@lizo_mzimba) March 28, 2022

Others said that joking about Pinkett Smith’s hair, when she has publicly discussed having alopecia, was insensitive.

HAIR is a VERY sensitive subject for many women of color; Black women in particular. Chris Rock knows this better than most b/c he produced a documentary called #GoodHair (that I starred in)…

Will Smith was wrong, but Chris Rock was as well. Jada was visibly upset. #Oscars

— Elgin Charles (@ElginCharles) March 28, 2022

So Jada Smith has alopecia & has been very open about the difficulties and pain of dealing with hair loss. I imagine that’s why Will was so pissed about Chris Rock’s joke about her hair but wow. That was unexpected #Oscars

— jstoobs (@thejstoobs) March 28, 2022

Overall, there were so many different opinions about the moment that it was hard to keep track as social media erupted in response.

Please tell me I didn’t see what I just saw. Somebody please tell me that @willsmith was joking and it was part of the show when he just smacked @chrisrock on National Television. I’m begging y’all….please don’t tell me @willsmith would do something like that???

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 28, 2022

So sad to see Questlove’s well-deserved #Oscar derailed by Will Smith’s beef with Chris Rock. Rock has told some tough jokes about Jada, and he might not have known they would be sensitive about her hair loss from alopecia. Still Summer of Soul is a brilliant film.

— Eric Deggans at NPR (@Deggans) March 28, 2022

The audience is still shooketh inside the Dolby. If Will Smith wins this will be the most viewed acceptance speech of all time.

— nekesa mumbi moody (@nekesamumbi) March 28, 2022

The show went on as best it could without addressing the moment too much, though it was hard to shake.

Then Smith won for “King Richard,” which sent him back onstage.

He seemingly addressed the moment, apologizing to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in his tear-filled acceptance speech — though he did not mention Rock or apologize to him:

“Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world. Making this film, I got to protect Aunjanue Ellis, who is one of the most strongest, most delicate people I’ve ever met. I got to protect, Saniyya (Sidney) and Demi (Singleton), the two actresses that played Venus and Serena (Williams). I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people. I know, to do what we do, you gotta be able to take abuse and have people talk crazy about you. In this business, you gotta be able to have people disrespecting you and you have to smile and pretend like that’s ok.  Denzel (Williams) said to me a few minutes ago, ‘At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you.’ I want to be a vessel for love. I want to say thank you to Venus and Serena for — I just spit, I hope they didn’t see that on TV. I want to say thank you to Venus and Serena and the entire Williams family for entrusting me with your story. That’s what I want to do. I want to be an ambassador of that kind of love and care and concern. I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award. It’s not about winning an award for me, it’s about being able to shine light on all of the people. Tim (White), Trevor (White), Zack (Baylin), Saniyya, Demi, Aunjanue, the whole cast of King Richard, Venus, Serena the entire cast and crew. Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. Love will make you do crazy things. To my mother, a lot of this moment is really complicated for me, but to my mother. She didn’t want to  come out. She has a knitting crew that she’s in Philly watching with. Being able to love and care for my mother, family and wife… I’m taking up too much time. Thank you for this honor, thank you for this moment. Thank you on behalf of Richard and Oracene (Williams), the entire Williams family. Thank you, I hope the Academy invites me back.”

Viewers had more to say about the confrontation after Smith took the stage for his award.

I’m tripping that you can assault someone on live television on stage at the Oscars and just take your seat and watch the rest of the show.

— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) March 28, 2022

i am begging everyone to not run straight to criminalizing will smith. begging! please! and before you explain yourself in my mentions……..don’t!

— josie duffy rice (@jduffyrice) March 28, 2022

Everybody has a breaking point. Stop playin with people. Will Smith

— RUSS (@russdiemon) March 28, 2022

All the love to Jada tonight.

— (@Steph_I_Will) March 28, 2022

Tonight was supposed to be a triumph for Gen-X Hip-hop. Will Smith won an Oscar over Denzel at the height of D’s power. Questlove and Jazzbo won Oscars. D-Nice is DJing and Will Packer hip-hop filmmaker produced it. Beyonce, Puff, Jay and Latifah there. All upstaged by The Slap.

— Cheo Hodari Coker (@cheo_coker) March 28, 2022

Praying for all the Black people at work asked to give an opinion about all of this tomorrow.

— Jasmyn (@JasmynBeKnowing) March 28, 2022

I just got more texts from my friends about Will Smith than when I dropped my new album.

— tablo (@blobyblo) March 28, 2022

I’m just realising the context behind why people are talking about violence. I’m in Ukraine and not paying attention to (entertainment) news in the states. After reviewing my TL, I’m keeping it that way. This is too messy. https://t.co/opPIINMqEc

— Terrell Jermaine Starr (@terrelljstarr) March 28, 2022

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