A loud slap from Will Smith to the Oscars presenter grabs the spotlight - (Video)

 Hollywood: Viewers of the Oscars Sunday night were stunned and did not know what happened when actor Will Smith took to the stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock

The evening's co-host Chris Rock had just released a joke about the shaved head of Will Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who has a condition that leads to massive hair loss.

Rock likened Jada Pinkett Smith's short hair to Demi Moore's shaven head in Ridley Scott's 1997 movie GI Jane. It was noted that Rock's statement upset Jada Pinkett Smith, who had previously spoken out about her hair loss. Will Smith, who laughed at first in jest, was only on stage and slapped Chris Rock, and the slap was heard in the microphones to the amazement of the audience in the hall or the spectators who watched the evening from their homes.

ABC cut the sound during the ensuing scene, but the dialogue was audible on foreign televisions.

Chris Rock said: “Wow. Wow. Will Smith just slapped me." "It was a joke about GI Jane," he justified.

"Leave my wife's name out of your damn mouth," cried Will Smith, and went back to his wife's side.

Hollywood star Will Smith then won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in "King Richard", where he plays the father and coach of tennis champions Serena and Venus Williams.

The actor cried, "apologizing to the Academy" (the body that administers the Oscars) .