Chris Rock Will Smith Lawsuit: Rock Never Sued Over the Oscars Slap
Questions about this case?
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There is no Chris Rock Will Smith lawsuit. After the slap at the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, Rock declined to file a police report, no charges were brought, and we found no record that he ever sued. The viral claim that he won $40 million in court was rated False by Snopes. The only Will Smith lawsuit in the 2026 news is a separate employment case by a former tour violinist. Nobody is owed money and there is no claim form.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What Actually Happened
During the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, Will Smith walked on stage and slapped Chris Rock while Rock was presenting Best Documentary Feature. It followed a G.I. Jane joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head, which is a result of alopecia.
Smith won Best Actor for King Richard later that night and apologized to the Academy in his speech, but not to Rock. He apologized to Rock on Instagram on March 28, 2022, resigned from the Academy on April 1, 2022, and on April 8, 2022 the Academy banned him from the Oscars and all Academy events for 10 years. He kept his Oscar.
Case Details
There is no court case between Rock and Smith. On March 28, 2022 the Los Angeles Police Department said: “The individual involved has declined to file a police report.” Because of that, police did not investigate or pursue a possible misdemeanor battery charge. No charges were filed.
No civil suit followed either. Snopes, checking the rumor on August 14, 2024, found “no publicly available evidence Rock ever filed a lawsuit against Smith.” Our own search as of October 2026 found nothing different.
A different case: Violinist Brian King Joseph, who toured with Smith in 2025, sued Smith and Treyball Studios Management in Los Angeles County Superior Court in late December 2025. He alleges wrongful termination, retaliation and sexual harassment. Smith's lawyer called the claims “false, baseless, and reckless.” On May 5, 2026 a judge dismissed the suit as pleaded, finding it did not allege “sufficiently severe or pervasive” conduct, but allowed Joseph to amend his complaint. We could not confirm whether he did. That case has nothing to do with Chris Rock.
Status: No Lawsuit, No Settlement
If you were looking for a celebrity case with real money involved, our news on the Chris Brown dog-attack verdict covers a different person and a different case.
Is Anyone Affected?
No. The slap was a dispute between two people, and it never became a lawsuit. There is no class, nothing to join and nothing to be included in. Viewers, Academy members and fans have no claim.
The violinist's employment case is an individual lawsuit by one former tour member. It is not a class action, so nobody else is part of it either.
How Much Money Did Chris Rock Get From Will Smith?
For the violinist's case, a jury was asked to set damages, but as of October 2026 no amount has been awarded and the complaint was dismissed with leave to amend.
Chris Rock and Will Smith Timeline
- 1
March 27, 2022 — The Slap
Smith slaps Rock on stage at the 94th Academy Awards, then wins Best Actor the same night.
- 2
March 28, 2022 — No Police Report
LAPD says Rock declined to file a police report. Smith apologizes to Rock on Instagram.
- 3
April 8, 2022 — 10-Year Academy Ban
A week after Smith resigned from the Academy, it bans him from the Oscars and all Academy events for 10 years.
- 4
July 29, 2022 — Video Apology
Smith posts a video apology. He says Rock's message back was that he was not ready to talk.
- 5
August 14, 2024 — $40 Million Hoax Debunked
Snopes rates False the viral claim that Rock won a $40 million lawsuit against Smith. Rock had addressed the slap in his Netflix special Selective Outrage in March 2023.
- 6
May 5, 2026 — Unrelated Violinist Suit Dismissed
A judge dismisses a former tour violinist's harassment and termination suit against Smith, with leave to amend. As of October 2026, Rock has still never sued Smith.
Three Things to Watch For
A famous incident with no real lawsuit is a gift to clickbait and fraud:
“Chris Rock wins $40 million” posts
This claim went viral in August 2024 and was rated False. Pages built on it usually exist to harvest clicks or push you to a second site. There was no lawsuit and no judgment.
Fake statements and apologies
Text posts claiming to be Rock's apology to the Smiths circulated from March 28, 2022. Snopes traced one to a random Facebook user and another to a Reddit community for fake tweets. Check a statement against a major news outlet before sharing it.
“Oscars slap settlement” sign-ups
There is no class, no fund and no administrator. Any form asking for your details or a fee to “join” a Chris Rock or Will Smith settlement is collecting data, not filing a claim.
Chris Rock and Will Smith — Questions People Actually Ask
Is there a Chris Rock lawsuit against Will Smith?
No. There is no Chris Rock lawsuit against Will Smith. Rock declined to file a police report in March 2022, and Snopes found no publicly available evidence that he ever sued. We found no court case as of October 2026.
How much money did Chris Rock get from Will Smith?
No payment has ever been reported. The “$40 million” figure comes from Rock's 2016 Netflix deal for two comedy specials, not from Smith or any court.
Why didn't Chris Rock press charges?
He has not explained it as a legal choice. LAPD said on March 28, 2022 that he declined to file a report, which meant police would not pursue a possible misdemeanor battery charge. In his March 2023 special he said he was not a victim.
Has Chris Rock apologized to Will Smith?
No. Viral “Rock apology” texts were fake, and Snopes rated the claim False. Rock received an apology: Smith apologized on Instagram on March 28, 2022 and again on video on July 29, 2022.
Does Chris Rock still talk to Will Smith?
Neither man has publicly said they have reconciled. The last direct word on contact came in Smith's July 29, 2022 video: he said he had reached out and Rock was not ready to talk. We found no reliable public confirmation of a conversation since then.
What happened to Will Smith after the slap?
He resigned from the Academy on April 1, 2022. On April 8, 2022 it banned him from the Oscars and all Academy events for 10 years. He kept his Best Actor Oscar for King Richard. No criminal charge was filed.
Who is suing Will Smith in 2026?
A former tour violinist sued Smith and Treyball Studios Management in Los Angeles County Superior Court in late December 2025, alleging wrongful termination, retaliation and sexual harassment. Smith denies it. On May 5, 2026 a judge dismissed the complaint with leave to amend. It is unrelated to Chris Rock.
Is there a settlement or claim form I can file?
No. Nothing in this story is a class action. There is no settlement, no fund, no claim form and no deadline. Anyone offering to file one for you is not legitimate.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
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