Will Smith Committed a Civil Battery (Personal Injury)

News from the Battery Man

While the sound shut off on the US telecast, Australian and Japanese viewers heard Smith inform Rock twice, "Keep my spouse's name out of your fucking mouth." A sharp Beyoncé performance, plenty of deserving winners , some nice clothes — and all the air went out of the room when that slap hit Chris Rock. People who ought to have been in a place to enjoy their moments, from Questlove on, contended with the results of conduct that wound up provoking post-ceremony statements from each the academy and the LAPD. 

Civil Battery Defined

The definition of civil battery is when someone has physically assaulted another person and caused them injury (pain), whether by fist, foot, or weapon.

Will Smith slapped Chris Rock after he made a joke about Smith's spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith. During his Oscar’s speech, Smith said, "I seem like the loopy father, similar to Richard Williams. But love will make you do loopy things."

The Oscars are for recognizing good work, for encouraging the public to see films and for seeing individuals say nice things regarding the people who have helped them succeed. Will Smith’s statement was odd, especially because he did not apologize to Chris Rock.

Chris Rock 

Rock was onstage on the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to present the award for Best Documentary when he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s appearance. In 2018, Pinkett Smith revealed she was diagnosed with alopecia, a situation that causes hair loss.

Whoopi Goldberg, who is an Oscar winner for "Ghost" and has hosted the show 4 times, advised her co-hosts on ABC's "The View" Monday that Smith "overreacted," although she believes "it was lots of stuff probably built up."

The Slap 

Unfortunately for Will Smith, the entire world watched “The Slap.” If they didn’t see it live, they saw it on the news. The Slap was actually a civil battery. Later, Will Smith would apologize to Chris Rock via Twitter and he offered his resignation from the Academy and they promptly accepted it.

Fortunately for Will Smith, it does not appear he will face any personal injury lawsuit for civil battery by Chris Rock. Criminal battery was addressed in the March 29, 2022 blog post.

The Battery Man 

If you are faced with a slap in the face, that is a civil battery and you may have a case.

Contact the Law Office of Mark Nicholson, ask for the Battery Man and let him go to bat for you! Mark Nicholson focuses on battery cases, civil and criminal. Call him at 317-667-0718.