Celebrities in Hollywood responded Monday following the shocking events during the Oscars broadcast when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock over a ‘G.I. Jane’ joke, which was aimed at his wife Jada’s appearance. The audience was all smiles when Rock took the stage and began his monologue, even Smith was laughing when Rock turned his attention to Jada Smith and riffed about her bald head. But seconds later, Smith stormed the stage and struck the comedian, leaving the audience in a stunned silence as Rock awkwardly continued. The reactions on Twitter were all over the place, but comedians stand united with Rock as they worry this incident may cause a trend.

“Now we have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters,” says Kathy Griffin.

https://twitter.com/kathygriffin/status/1508280182146154500?s=20&t=05rVTQdWT6boGmEoTsPVlw

“Stand-up comics are very adept at handling hecklers,” tweeted Mark Hamill. “Violent physical assault… not so much.”

Stand-up comics are very adept at handling hecklers.
Violent physical assault… not so much.#UgliestOscarMoment_Ever pic.twitter.com/enUimEoLV6

— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) March 28, 2022

“Ummm… Whaaaat!??,” writes Dan Bucatinsky. “He justified his assault using tears and the word ‘love’…the one thing he did NOT do is apologize for slapping Chris Rock!!”

Ummm… Whaaaat!?? He justified his assault using tears and the word “love”.
the one thing he did NOT do is apologize for slapping Chris Rock!! https://t.co/FVyUOJ3v3A

— Dan Bucatinsky (@danbucatinsky) March 28, 2022

Rosie O’Donnell tweeted, “so upsetting – on every level – bravo to Chris Rock – for not eviscerating will smith – which he could do any day of the week – he walked away – bravo from a sad display of toxic masculinity from a narcissistic madman.”

so upsetting – on every level – bravo to Chris Rock – for not eviscerating will smith – which he could do any day of the week – he walked away – bravo from a sad display of toxic masculinity from a narcissistic madman #Oscars2022 #chrisROCK

— ROSIE (@Rosie) March 28, 2022

“Somebody in #willsmith’s circle needs to tell him that there is no way what he did tonight won’t result in a comedian somewhere getting beat up or killed. He green lit a lot of violence. There’s gonna need to be a lot of clean up” said Hal Sparks.

Somebody in #willsmith’s circle needs to tell him that there is no way what he did tonight won’t result in a comedian somewhere getting beat up or killed. He green lit a lot of violence.

There’s gonna need to be a lot of clean up.

— Hal Sparks (@HalSparks) March 28, 2022

Others were shocked Smith wasn’t escorted out of the theater and was allowed to continue on as if nothing happened.

“Why didn’t @TheAcademy have Will Smith escorted by security out after he assaulted Chris Rock? Instead, they gave him an #Oscar  and allowed him to scapegoat his actions.” tweeted journalist David Leavitt, and author Wajahat Ali commented, “If you’re a big enough star you can slap someone on live TV and casually sit down. Enjoy the rest of the ceremony. Win an award. Get a standing ovation. Kinda apologize but not really. Get another standing ovation and then have people defend you.”

Why didn’t @TheAcademy have Will Smith escorted by security out after he assaulted Chris Rock?

Instead, they gave him an #Oscar  and allowed him to scapegoat his actions.

— David Leavitt @ PAX EAST (@David_Leavitt) March 28, 2022

If you're a big enough star you can slap someone on live TV and casually sit down. Enjoy the rest of the ceremony. Win an award. Get a standing ovation. Kinda apologize but not really. Get another standing ovation and then have people defend you. America is amazing. #Oscars

— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) March 28, 2022

Smith’s son Jaden simply tweeted, “And that’s how we do it.”

And That’s How We Do It

— Jaden (@jaden) March 28, 2022