This is BS. How can the slap have increased ratings? No one would have known about it at the time unless they were already watching. The only way it could have increased ratings is if a lot of people tuned in post-slap during the telecast.
this was not a stunt...there are real bad feelings between these two and the producers and members of the Oscars are mixed whether they should take the Oscar from Will
they wont because he is Black. If it had been Whitey the dude would already be in jail and the Oscar revoked
https://www.tmz.com/2022/03/28/chris-rock-will-smith-pada-pinkett-smack-alopecia-oscars/