Will Smith reportedly 'still hates' Chris Rock years after Oscars slap incident

Will Smith reportedly still holds resentment toward Chris Rock after the Oscars slap, citing unresolved tensions.

Nearly three years after the infamous Oscars slap, Will Smith reportedly harbors ongoing resentment toward Chris Rock.

According to a source cited by In Touch, the King Richard actor “still hates” the comedian and has been enjoying recent controversies surrounding Rock.

In December 2024, Chris Rock made headlines after walking off stage during a holiday party hosted by billionaire Anthony Pratt. According to The New York Post columnist Cindy Adams, Rock stormed out after spotting something in the audience that upset him. Before leaving, the comedian reportedly shouted that the event was not meant to be recorded and made a controversial joke about Mexicans, stating, “Our new push will be outer space. We’ll put all the Mexicans on the rockets.”

The In Touch source claimed Smith has “been indulging in every second of [Rock’s] misery while twisting the knife to no end.” Despite his own career recovery, the source stated that Smith “will never forgive Chris for ruining his life.”

The rift between the two stems from the 2022 Oscars, where Rock joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, comparing her to G.I. Jane. Smith, visibly upset, walked on stage and slapped Rock, then shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth.” While Smith won Best Actor that night, the incident led to his 10-year Oscars ban and resignation from the Academy.

Smith publicly apologized multiple times, calling his actions “unacceptable” and stating that a joke about Jada’s alopecia had caused him to react emotionally. Rock has largely refrained from engaging, reportedly rejecting Smith’s apology video and referring to it as a “hostage video.”

The In Touch source added that Smith views Rock’s recent controversies as “karma” for refusing to reconcile. Both parties have yet to address these new claims publicly.