Chris Rock and Will Smith's Relationship Through the Years: A History

Here is a timeline of Will Smith and Chris Rock's relationship from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air era until the 2022 Oscars incident.

Chris Rock and Will Smith go way back.

The performers had known one another for almost three decades, but the unplanned event at the 94th Academy Awards may be the most recent interaction remembered of the two.

Rock cracked a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and her hair during the most recent award show. Smith stormed the 2022 Oscar stage and smacked Rock in the face.

"Don't f—-ing mention my wife's name!" Rock joked, "Jada I love you, 'G.I. Jane 2,' can't wait to watch it," and Smith yelled in response. Just before the King Richard actor won the Best Actor Oscar, there was an argument.

Will Smith and Chris Rock. Photo: ROBYN BECK/GETTY

Rock earlier referenced the Smiths while serving as the Oscars' host in 2016, stating, "Jada's boycott of the Oscars is equivalent to mine of Rihanna's underwear. No one invited me."

Rock and the Smiths have collaborated for many years and have been seen in a number of films and TV series. Additionally, throughout the years, social scenes have shown both actors enjoying each other's company.

Scroll down for a timeline of Smith and Rock's relationship from their time on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to the present.

Will Smith and Chris Rock co-starred in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on September 25, 1995

Photographed by Jan Sonnemair for NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

Smith and Rock each had two parts on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Rock had a cameo appearance as both the popular actor Maurice Perry and his sister Jasmine in episode two of season six, "Get a Job," aired on September 25, 1995.

Will Smith and Chris Rock costarred in the 1999 film Torrance Rises

Image credit: JEFF KRAVITZ/FILMMAGIC

The 1999 mockumentary Torrance Rises, directed by Spike Jonze, starred Smith and Rock and followed the Torrance Community Dance Group (from Fatboy Slim's "Praise You" video) as they made their way to the MTV Video Music Awards. Both actors portrayed themselves along with other renowned personalities like Madonna, Sofia Coppola, and others.

The two actors were seen laughing in the audience of the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards when they were pictured together before the production.

Chris Rock presents a Kids' Choice Award to Will Smith on April 2, 2005

By KEVIN WINTER/GETTY

The two had a more amicable exchange at the 2005 Kids' Choice Awards when Rock gave Smith the golden blimp after winning the favorite voice from an animated film for his performance as Oscar in Shark Tale.

Five years later, in 2010, Rock and Smith met for the performance once more. Backstage, they posed for a photo with Smith's son Jaden Smith.

Chris Rock and Jada Pinkett Smith appeared together in Madagascar on May 27, 2005

By GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP THROUGH GETTY

Smith and the Rock have worked together over the years, and Jada and the Rock have also shared the screen together. Notably, the two appeared in Madagascar, an animated picture released in 2005, as well as its two follow-ups, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, both released in 2008 and 2012.

The comedian admitted to Jada in an interview with Fuse that his kids are huge fans of her kids while promoting the third episode of the popular cartoon series, in which Rock voices Marty the zebra and Jada voices Gloria the hippopotamus.

Hey, listen to your kids, my kids will! Jada heard Rock say. "In "21st Century Girl," God, oh God. They also adore LMFAO but have no concept of what it represents."

Chris Rock acknowledges Jada Pinkett Smith in his Oscars monologue on February 28, 2016

Image credit: JEFF KRAVITZ/FILMMAGIC

The comedian brought up Jada's choice to miss the Oscars while he was hosting the 2016 ceremony.

"Jada protested that she wouldn't be coming. She must be on a TV show, I thought. Will Jada abstain from the Academy Awards? Jada's boycott of the Oscars is equivalent to mine of Rihanna's underwear. No one invited me! "stated he.

Additionally, Rock poked fun at her husband, who wasn't nominated in that particular year, stating, "It's unfair that Will was so talented yet didn't receive a nomination. You are correct. Furthermore, it's unfair that Will received $20 million for Wild Wild West, agree? "He said, making a reference to one of Smith's less popular films.

Will Smith strikes Chris Rock during the Oscars on March 27, 2022

Image credit: NEILSON BARNARD/GETTY

On March 27, Rock made a joke about Jada's shaved hairline before revealing the Best Documentary candidates for the 2022 Academy Awards. This caused Smith to get up from his chair, assault the stage, and slap the comic on live television.

Rock, who appeared surprised, exclaimed, "Oh wow," as Will returned to his seat. "Will Smith just beat the crap out of me," I said.

Keep my wife's name out of your f—ing lips, Smith cried from his seat, to which Rock retorted, "Wow, buddy, it was a G.I. Jane joke."

After the event, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences issued a public statement on the incident in which they denounced Smith's actions and declared that they will "investigate further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct, and California law."

Picture credit: LEE CELANO/WIREIMAGE

On July 29, 2022, Will Smith Expressed Regret to Chris Rock for the Oscars Jab

On July 29, Smith sent a video to YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook in which he apologizes to Rock once more and urges him to get in touch at any time. This comes four months after Smith hit Rock across the face at the Oscars.

Smith stated, "I went out to Chris, and the response I got was that he's not ready to discuss, and when he is he will call out. "I will thus apologize to you, Chris. I apologize for my conduct, and I'm available whenever you want to talk."

3 September 2022: Will Smith's audio apology appears to be referred to as a "hostage video" by Chris Rock

Rock allegedly made a reference to the recorded apology Smith posted in July when he muttered, "f—- your hostage video," during a comedy set with Dave Chappelle in London, according to Deadline.

According to the source, Rock reportedly referred to the actor as "Suge Smith" and said, "That s—- hurt," in reference to Smith's slap at the 94th Academy Awards.

According to reports, the comic "He performed as Muhammad Ali. Even playing Floyd Mayweather is beyond me."

Will Smith discusses the night he slapped Chris Rock on November 28, 2022

During an appearance on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Smith talked about slapping Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. Smith admitted to Trevor Noah, "There are many layers and complexity to it, you know, but at the end of the day, I just — I lost it."

The actor said, "You just don't know what's going on with people." "And that night, I was going through something."

Not that that in any way excuses my behavior, he continued.

Source: People.com

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