The Will Smith punching Chris Rock meme originated from the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022. During the live broadcast, comedian Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head, leading Will Smith to walk onto the stage and slap him across the face. The moment shocked the world and immediately became a global sensation. Online, the image is used to represent one thing or person being 'slapped' by another, often symbolizing sudden consequences, harsh reality checks, or a forceful rejection of a specific idea or action.