The shocking Oscars incident between Will Smith and Chris Rock is the talk of the internet and the livestream at Vanity Fair’s Oscar Party, unsurprisingly.

On the blue carpet at the Wallis Annenberg Center, hosts Phoebe Robinson and Catt Sadler elicited a flurry of reactions from celebrities, some of whom were in the audience when Smith stormed onstage to slap Rock, and others who were watching from home like the rest of us.

“My friend and I were debating whether that was real or staged,” Red Rocket star Simon Rex admitted. “I believe it was real, so I’m still reeling from the experience.” After that, he gave a beautiful speech in which he apologized — but he didn’t apologize to Chris Rock! So I’m curious if they’re going to fight tonight because if they do, I’ll break it up. It’s insane!”

“Will and Chris, we’re going to solve that like family at [Jay- Z’s] Gold Party, but right now we’re moving on with love,” Sean “Love” Combs, a rapper, mogul, and actor, said onstage at the Oscars shortly after xSmith’s outburst. Later, at a party hosted by Vanity Fair, Combs discussed his plea for resolution. “I was as surprised as everyone else, but I had just expressed how I felt, and I felt it was critical to bring love into the room.” I believe we are familiar with both of those men’s personalities, and, you know, shit happens.”

When asked for his thoughts, Leslie Odom Jr., an Oscar nominee in 2021 for One Night in Miami…, took a more serious tone. “Sometimes it feels like you’re walking around with your skin ripped off,” he said. “I think we saw two artists with their hearts open because it’s a very vulnerable thing.” It’s a vulnerable moment, and it can be messy at times, but when it’s the truth, it’s always beautiful.”

Presenter Rosie Perez was about to leave the Dolby Theatre after reuniting with her White Men Can’t Jump costars Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes earlier in the night when she heard the commotion. On the Vanity Fair livestream, the actress said, “I was going, ‘What is going on?'” “And then we saw,” she says, “and I was like, ‘Oh my God!’ To say the least, it was an interesting incident… At first, it was simply awkward. I believe that many people were simply unaware of what was going on. “Was it a spoof or a true story?”

LaKeith Stanfield, the Atlanta star, had a little too much fun with the situation. Stanfield had to limp away from his interview due to a fashion emergency after he and a friend made a joke recreation of the now-famous slap. “I think I just broke my heel,” he admitted, his boot paying the price for the sake of comedy.

Smith would win his first career Oscar later that night for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ unflappable and controversial father Richard in King Richard, and he gave an emotional speech in which he said, “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family… Art imitates life: I resemble the crazed father, just as Richard Williams was described. Love, on the other hand, will drive you insane.

If you want more reading material that will make you laugh – take look at these caricatures of famous people, including Will Smith