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Will Smith SLAPGATE left Serena Williams too shocked to speak: 'I gotta put the drink down'

Serena Williams took a moment and told her fans and viewers that she had to sit down after she witnessed Will Smith slapping Chris Rock 

Owing to the shocking slap Chris Rock received from Will Smith at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 27, Serena Williams took to her Instagram to share what she felt about it. She was shook and speechless. She took a moment and told her fans and viewers that she had to sit down after she witnessed what she witnessed. 

The initial seconds of the clip had no words, Serena's facial expressions said it all. A few moments later she said, "I just sat down, because I was like, I gotta put that drink down because..."

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Clearly, Serena was feeling hesitant to condemn Will openly since she was present at the Oscars a night before for a film he starred in and was the producer of. Serena, 40, and her sister Venus, 41, have executive producer credits for this film which is about their father Richard Williams. But in the Instagram videos, specifically the second, she is seen giving the side-eye and wrinkling up her brows which indicate that she obviously does not approve of Will's behavior. Will won the Best Actor Oscar for his role as Richard Williams in 'King Richard'.

Will has been receiving tons of backlash online for his outburst. During his opening monologue, Rock said in reference to Jada Pinkett Smith, "Jada, GI Jane 2, I can't wait to see it" that caused Will to walk up to the stage and slap Rock across his face. In Rock's defense, he had no clue about her alopecia. 

Initially, Will laughed it off. He then noticed how his wife did not and moments later he slapped the presenter. As Will made his way back to the seat, Rock said, "Wow, Will Smith just smacked the s**t out of me." People seem to think Rock behaved exceptionally professionally. 

As Will walked back to his seat, he said, "Keep my wife's name out of your f***ing mouth" and the couple held hands for the entire duration of the ceremony. When LAPD arrived, Rock declined to press charges. 

Addressing his outburst as he collected the award, Will said, "Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. In this time in my life, in this moment I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do. I'm being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people." He apologised to the Academy and fellow nominees, but not Rock then but a day later he wrote an apology on Instagram mentioning that his violent behavior towards Rock was unacceptable.