Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Piers Morgan claims Will Smith told him ‘don’t upset my wife’ in ‘unnerving encounter’ back in 2011

‘You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry,’ Smith allegedly told Morgan back in 2011

Louis Chilton
Monday 28 March 2022 14:46 EDT
Oscar's celebrities react to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Piers Morgan has claimed that Will Smith told him “don’t upset my wife” in an “unnerving” encounter that took place a few years ago.

It comes after Smith shockingly slapped presenter Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars ceremony last night (27 March), after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

“Jada, I love you. GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see you,” said Rock, in an apparent reference to Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. Pinkett Smith stated last year that she shaved her head after struggling with alopecia.

Smith, who won the Best Actor prize later in the ceremony, walked on stage and struck Rock, before shouting at him: “Keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth.”

Morgan has shared his thoughts on the incident in a column in The Sun, detailing a meeting he had with Smith while interviewing his wife back in 2011.

“A few years ago, I interviewed Jada Pinkett Smith for CNN, and Will turned up unannounced to support her,” wrote the former Good Morning Britain presenter.

“My first encounter with him was unnerving.”

He claimed that Smith yelled, “I wasn’t sure about you…. not sure at all!” while standing “inches” from Morgan’s face, staring into his eyes before grinning and adding: “But now I like you.”

Will Smith slaps Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars
Will Smith slaps Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars (Reuters)

“Before we started, he warned me: ‘Don’t upset my wife, Mr Morgan, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry,’” Morgan claimed.

The Independent has contacted Smith’s representative for comment.

While Morgan described Smith’s behaviour at the Oscars as “the ugliest ever seen at the Academy Awards”, he also defended the actor, saying he was “standing up for his wife”.

Find the full list of 2022 Oscar winners here. See the latest updates and reactions from the dramatic ceremony here, and read about the biggest talking points here.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in