When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscar Ceremony, the incident became another in a long line of controversies to hit the beleaguered family. They have been in the headlines a lot in the 2010s, and it hasn’t always been about positive news. The list includes a few seedy and somewhat strange moments.

From unique parenting methods to entanglements and airing their dirty laundry on Jada Pinkett Smith’s streaming talk show Red Table Talk. Here we unpack some of those incidents and attempt to link them together in one stressor that causes their controversial behavior. We also show that while controversial, some of their methods work.

Was The Smith-Rock Slap Planned?

Will Smith Slapping Chris Rock has been making big headlines worldwide since it happened in March 2022. While it seemed like a hoax initially, these insinuations soon went out the window when Smith emotionally told Rock not to speak of his wife.

But there are reasons to believe that the slap was indeed choreographed. One rumor has it that Rock was pre-informed; another notes Smith was giving a wry smile in his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s direction while walking off stage. There is also no doubt that, with his talents, Smith could have pulled off not being livid without actually being it.

Andy Ford