It just doesn’t make sense though. Only reason would be for ratings, but I don’t think it helped. Usually the oscars don’t go out of their way to be controversial. It’s possible it was a work, but the reactions on all parts up to and after don’t make sense for it to be fake.
keep clicking on the 7 second mark and let it run through the slap- watch it over and over and you will see the fingers bent backwards- brushing the face- I’ve seen this same ‘slap’ over and over in movies- in slow motion- it’ very typical- it’s acting-
I do not think that it was fake...Not at all...
Academy of Motion Picture did release a statement after the show...The Academy made it clear that it did not approve of what Will Smith did...I find it hard to believe that Academy people wanted to generate people's interest this way...
Will Smith got very angry and could not control his emotions...I do not think that Will Smith and Chris Rock worked this out in advance...
You may not understand, but what helps ratings are promos before the event, such as, Tune in and watch Beyonce on Sunday night at the Oscars.
But to have a secret attack on Chris Rock while introducing Best Documentary, that no one knows it's going to happen is not the recipe to increase ratings, particularly near the end of the show. And no, the producer would never have approved such a stunt.
Just because this publicity stunt may have FAILED - i.e., may have, ultimately, not produced the desired positive results - does not prove that it was NOT faked.
Regards,