Piers Morgan responds to Will Smith Oscar slap: 'Ugliest moment in Oscars history'

Piers Morgan has called Will Smith's physical attack on Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars ceremony the, "ugliest moment in Oscars history."

The King Richard star slapped the comedian live on stage at the awards ceremony for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia.

Morgan was watching the Oscars at home on TV and tweeted: "It was real. Just seen the uncensored footage. Will Smith hit Chris Rock for cracking a GI Jane joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith (who suffers from alopecia) - then twice screamed 'keep my wife's name out of your f***ing mouth' at him.

"Ugliest moment in Oscars history."

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He added: "Astonishing", and "INSANE."

He then shared a picture of himself playing the piano to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star captioned: "That time I played Let It Be to Will Smith… #WhenIFindMyselfInTimesOfTrouble "

Morgan's former Good Morning Britain co-host Susanna Reid has outwardly condemned Smith's violent act at the public event, which was broadcast live on TV around the world.

Reid said: "I would just like to make it clear, I do not think it is okay, unless somebody is in physical danger and you need to protect them, or you need to save them in some way by physically intervening, I don't think it's okay to slap anybody."

She added: "I'm not saying it's wrong just because it's my job to argue against things."

Ranvir Singh said: "I agree with Susanna that it's not okay. But the red mist came down, and that's a very human condition."

One Direction's Liam Payne, who was in the audience, told GMB: "I believe whatever he felt he did that he did, he had the right. I also felt there were three losers in one fight. He didn't know – being Chris Rock. He didn't want to do what he had to do – being Will Smith. And she did nothing – being Jada.

"But it was a powerful moment for me to sit and watch one of the world's best emoters speak from the heart, and I would rather take the beauty out of the situation than the pain.

"But I had to leave my chair, I'll be honest with you, it cut me really deep. I'm sure everyone's very apologetic about the situation, but ask yourself what would you do in the same situation? We're all very human, right?"

The Academy said in a statement that it does "not condone violence of any form".

Rock, 57, who was on stage to present the award for Best Documentary Feature, made a comment about Pinkett Smith possibly starring in a sequel to G.I. Jane due to her bald head.

Pinkett Smith, 50, has spoken openly in recent years about losing her hair due to alopecia and seemed to roll her eyes in reaction to the gag.

Smith, 53, then approached Rock on stage and hit him in the face, shocking the comedian before returning to his seat.

Viewers in the UK and other countries then heard Smith yell at Rock several times to, "Keep my wife's name out of your f***ing mouth", while the US broadcaster cut the audio.

The Los Angeles Police Department has said it is not currently investigating the incident.

Smith went on to take to the stage after being named Best Actor for his performance as Richard Williams — the father of tennis champs Venus and Serena Williams — in King Richard.

Read more: Oscars 2022: Academy condemns violence after Will Smith slap

The Men In Black star delivered an emotional speech through floods of tears, in which he apologised for the incident, ending with the words "I hope the Academy invites me back".

Watch: Celebrities react to Will Smith's Oscars slap