Arab News Japan

As everyone around the globe watched on while actor Will Smith smacked comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, viewers in Japan had the chance to watch the violent scene unfold completely uncensored and uncut.

Japanese TV channel WOWOW, which broadcast the star-studded awards show, is a private satellite broadcasting and premium satellite station in the Asian country.

On the Oscars stage, Smith struck Rock across the face for joking about his wife, in a moment at Sunday’s gala that immediately went viral and left viewers stunned.

Rock, presenting the best documentary prize with a short comedy routine, had cracked a joke comparing Jada Pinkett Smith’s buzzed hair to Demi Moore’s appearance in the film “G.I. Jane” and suggested she appear in a sequel.

In a moment that triggered awkward silence and confusion in the Dolby Theatre, Smith strode up to Rock and slapped him, before returning to his seat alongside Jada and shouting profanities.

Will Smith just punched Chris Rock and told him "keep my wife's name out of your f***ing mouth" pic.twitter.com/1f1ytdbMRv

— Superdrunkmark69 (@cjzer0) March 28, 2022

“Keep my wife’s name out of your (redacted) mouth,” yelled Smith, forcing the producers to bleep out several seconds of audio from the televised broadcast in the United States.

However, in Japan, viewers saw the entire scene unfold, with many even referring to the clip on social media as evidence of the altercation.

*With AFP