Who famously slapped Chris Rock onstage during the 2022 Academy Awards?
Was the Will Smith-Chris Rock slap scripted? 12 famous feuds

Hollywood isn't always glitz and glam, sometimes it's full-on drama. From shady tweets to on-stage outbursts and slaps, celebrity feuds have a way of stealing the spotlight just as much as any blockbuster. You probably know about some of these incidents, but a few will surprise you!
Image: Andrew Le
Joan Crawford vs. Bette Davis
The feud between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis began in 1935 when Bette fell for co-star Franchot Tone, only for Joan to marry him soon after filming ended.
Their rivalry peaked during the tense 1962 shoot of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?. The tension never eased, and the two reportedly never reconciled before their deaths.
Image: Shubham Panwar
Kim Cattrall vs. Sarah Jessica Parker
On Sex and the City, Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker played close friends, but off-screen, their relationship was far from warm. Tensions surfaced when Kim declined to join a third movie.
In 2018, things worsened after Sarah offered condolences over Kim’s brother’s death. Kim responded harshly on Instagram, saying, "You are not my friend. You are not my family."
Image: Erhan Çoban
David Letterman vs. Jay Leno
The biggest late-night feud kicked off in 1992 when Johnny Carson retired from The Tonight Show. Many expected David Letterman to take over, but NBC chose Jay Leno instead.
Letterman left for CBS to launch The Late Show, going head-to-head with Leno. Their rivalry, known as the "Late Night Wars," lasted for years as both battled for ratings before eventually retiring.
Image: Diogo Cardoso
Gwyneth Paltrow vs. Martha Stewart
The feud between Gwyneth Paltrow and Martha Stewart began in 2014 when Martha criticized Gwyneth’s lifestyle brand, saying she should stick to acting.
Things escalated with cheeky recipe jabs—Martha’s "Conscious Coupling" and Gwyneth’s "jailbird cake," referencing Martha’s past prison time.
Image: Lesya Tyutrina Andrey Biyanov
Vin Diesel vs. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
The rivalry between The Rock and Vin Diesel began during The Fate of the Furious shoot in 2017, when The Rock called out unnamed co-stars for unprofessional behavior on social media.
Fans quickly guessed he meant Vin, especially after The Rock thanked the cast and crew in a post, but noticeably left out Vin Diesel.
Image: Ayu Anggraini
Elton John vs. Madonna
Elton John and Madonna's feud began in 2002 when Elton slammed her Bond song as the "worst of all time." He later accused her of lip-syncing during live shows.
Things heated up in 2012 when both were up for a Golden Globe. Elton claimed Madonna had no chance—but she won. Backstage, she said she adored him and hoped he'd win another award.
Image: Mélody P
Elizabeth Taylor vs. Debbie Reynolds
The drama between Debbie Reynolds and Elizabeth Taylor began when Debbie's husband, Eddie Fisher, left her for Elizabeth, her close friend at the time.
Their affair started after Eddie comforted Elizabeth following her husband’s death in 1959. Years later, after Elizabeth and Eddie split, Debbie and Elizabeth made peace.
Image: Venti Views
Frank Sinatra vs. Marlon Brando
Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando clashed while filming Guys and Dolls, thanks to their huge egos and very different styles.
Sinatra gave Brando rude nicknames, while Brando messed up takes during a cheesecake scene, forcing Sinatra to eat far more than he wanted.
Image: David Clode
Dean Martin vs. Jerry Lewis
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were a wildly popular duo from 1946 to 1956, dominating film and TV. But behind the scenes, tensions grew.
Martin felt Lewis was taking over the act, leading to their split in 1956. Though both found solo success, their friendship suffered. They finally reconciled in 1976, with help from Frank Sinatra.
Image: Akbar Nemati
Angelina Jolie vs. Jon Voight
Family ties don’t always guarantee peace in Hollywood. Jon Voight and Angelina Jolie’s feud mainly stems from Voight’s infidelity toward Jolie’s mother, Marcheline Bertrand.
Though they've had brief moments of reconciliation, their relationship often breaks down again due to new conflicts, making their feud long-lasting and complicated.
Image: Daniil Komov
Will Smith vs. Chris Rock
Will Smith and Chris Rock’s feud exploded publicly at the 94th Academy Awards when Will slapped Chris after a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. The slap was definitely not scripted, and it took everyone by surprise, especially Rock.
The incident went viral and had major consequences for Will. Despite the drama, there are hints that the two might eventually repair their friendship.
Image: Frida Lannerström
Johnny Carson vs. Joan Rivers
The previously mentioned Johnny Carson was a TV legend, and he often featured Joan Rivers as a guest and occasional host. But when Rivers launched her show without telling Carson, he took it as a major betrayal.
Carson never forgave her, and their feud lasted until his death. Sadly, Rivers' show struggled and never quite matched his success.
Image: Long Ma