"Was the Only Person Happy"—Rob Lowe Reveals Why Will Smith's Oscars Slap Was Good News for Him
Rob Lowe at arrivals for THE MUSICAL Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 2026, Eccles Theater, Park City, UT, January 25, 2026. Photo By: JA Everett Collection2625J05 JO074 PUBLICATIONXNOTxINxCANxCHNxFRAxITAxJPNxNORxPOLxRUSxESPxUKxUSA Copyright: xx 2625J05 JO074 2625J05_JO074_H
Rob Lowe at arrivals for THE MUSICAL Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 2026, Eccles Theater, Park City, UT, January 25, 2026. Photo By: JA Everett Collection2625J05 JO074 PUBLICATIONXNOTxINxCANxCHNxFRAxITAxJPNxNORxPOLxRUSxESPxUKxUSA Copyright: xx 2625J05 JO074 2625J05_JO074_H
The 2022 Oscars slap moment initially left audiences uncertain whether Will Smith striking Chris Rock was scripted comedy or a genuine altercation. As the night progressed, confirmation emerged that the violence was real, sparking worldwide debate about accountability, comedy boundaries, and appropriate responses to personal insults.
While the incident overshadowed the ceremony, Rob Lowe found an unexpected reason to feel relieved.
Ron Lowe’s reveals that slap made him happy
Rob Lowe discussed his humiliating 1989 Oscars performance during Thursday's appearance on SiriusXM's Andy Cohen Live, explaining his reaction to the 2022 Smith-Rock incident.
"When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock, I was the only person happy. Because I was like, 'Oh, good. So now that's the worst moment in Oscar history,'" Lowe told Cohen, expressing relief that another catastrophe had finally displaced his reputation for hosting television's most embarrassing opening number.
Dominican artist Jesus Cruz Artiles, better known as EME Freethinker, has captured the Oscar slap of Will Smith against Chris Rock at the Oscars on a wall in Mauerpark as a painting Sorry, I can not resist , the artist writes about his creation on Instagram Berlin, 01 04 2022 Foto:xT.xBartillax xFuturexImage
Dominican artist Jesus Cruz Artiles, better known as EME Freethinker, has captured the Oscar slap of Will Smith against Chris Rock at the Oscars on a wall in Mauerpark as a painting Sorry, I can not resist , the artist writes about his creation on Instagram Berlin, 01 04 2022 Foto:xT.xBartillax xFuturexImage
Lowe acknowledged his disappointment that his 1989 infamy persists despite the slap's severity.
"But it turns out not really. Turns out I still am dragged, dragged every year," he admitted to Cohen, noting that annual Oscar broadcasts inevitably reference his performance alongside Snow White singing "Proud Mary" with cinematic flourishes.
The teen heartthrit's musical number remains a touchstone for Oscar producers seeking to avoid similar missteps, ensuring Lowe's embarrassment continues decades later despite his successful career reinvention through television dramas and podcasts.
Meanwhile, Rock has recently made it clear that the infamous incident occupies very little space in his life.
Chris Rock moves forward four years later
Chris Rock addressed the Oscars confrontation during a September 2026 Variety interview while discussing his directorial return, Misty Green. Asked about the incident, Rock said he wished nothing had happened but added that his bad day was “not that important” compared with the problems affecting people around the world.
Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix s Roommates HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA - APRIL 13: Chris Rock arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix s Roommates held at The Egyptian Theatre on April 13, 2026 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Xavier Collin Image Press Agency)
Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix s Roommates HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA - APRIL 13: Chris Rock arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix s Roommates held at The Egyptian Theatre on April 13, 2026 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Xavier Collin Image Press Agency)
Rock also avoided turning the interview into another discussion about Smith. His attention was firmly on Misty Green, which marks his first directorial feature since 2014’s Top Five. Rosalind Eleazar stars as the title character, with Rock, Anna Kendrick, Adam Driver, Daniel Kaluuya and Topher Grace also appearing.
Rock has also indicated that his Oscar-hosting days may be behind him, praising Conan O’Brien and his monologue while saying he would return to the ceremony only under specific circumstances.
What do you think about Rob Lowe’s reaction to the Oscars slap and Chris Rock’s decision to move forward? Let us know in the comments.
Edited By: Itti Mahajan
