[American Infidel]

Definitely a "work" and an "angle" in pro-wrestling parlance. The viewership for the oscars has been declining, and this stunt gave it the necessary buzz to get people to 'care' about it again. Two actors doing what actors do. They put on a performance in order to get people talking about the oscars, which no one has cared about in years once they went all political and "woke".

Chris Rock "no-sold" the slap in order to "keep his heat" and not look like a 'punk'. I am sure that was agreed upon when it was being planned. He kept his hands behind his back the whole time and moved with the direction of the slap without trying to back away or put his hands up to block it. Clearly a stunt, but Smith had to actually make contact for it to look authentic.

[vivenne]

I don’t know. I never watch this show but watched the unedited clip and if this is a stunt (or not) it doesn’t make me want to watch it. It’s just proof of how far Hollywood has fallen.