HOLLY Willoughby insisted Chris Rock’s joke “wasn’t funny” after Will Smith slapped him at The Oscars last night.
Holly and co-host Phillip Schofield shared their reactions to the shocking Oscars’ moment on This Morning today.
Smith, who won his first ever Academy Award for King Richard at the ceremony, appeared to take offence to a gag Rock made about Pinkett Smith‘s short haircut.
The Magic Mike XXL star and Red Table Talk host has previously spoken about her struggles with alopecia and said it is what prompted her to shave her head.
Phil, 59, downplayed it as “unexpected” while Holly, 41, said: “That was an assault on somebody.
“But you can see her reaction. It’s not funny, it is something she is living with.
“It’s so difficult, can you ever be driven to violence? It’s enexcusable.”
Holly and Phil then asked viewers to tweet in whether it was “right or wrong” to defend a spouse’s honour.
One viewer tweeted: “Reckon there’s history there between Rock and Smith and on the wrong day you’re just gonna see red – I’m not saying it’s right, I’m saying it happens”
Another said: “Chris rock had no right making fun out of someone’s illness’s. How would he feel about someone taking the P**s out of his family, if they were Ill. Why should Will give his Oscar back.”
However, one more said: “Will Smith was totally wrong to hit. Not wrong to be angry. But when you are in a privileged position you have a responsibility to show better behaviour. He ruined his own moment and every other winners’ moment by this furore. Selfish”
Radio host Julia Hartley-Brewer joined the discussion on This Morning and said Fresh Prince star Will, who apologised for his outburst and sobbed on stage when he picked up his Oscar, was a “troubled man”.
She said: “Finally something interesting happened at the Osars.
“It was extraordinary, he’s such a loved actor, clearly he is really troubled. We know there’s history between him and Chris Rock, there’s been some issues in his open marriage.
“He’s under a lot of pressure. That said, a lot of married men, speaking to them this morning, are saying he was defending his wife’s honour.”
Jada has been struggling with hair loss for years, and last year decided to shave it all off.
Her husband, Will, took offense at the joke and stormed the stage before hitting the presenter with a right hook.
The audio and video feed in the US was cut for several seconds during the shocking incident.
However, international broadcasters aired the entire violent encounter between the two stars.
After the confrontation, a stunned Chris said: “Will Smith just smacked the s**t out of me.”
When the video restarted, Will looked furious, as he yelled at the comedian: “Leave my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.”
