Will Smith's Oscars Slap and What to Expect at the Grammys

Everything that happened at the Academy Awards still has us reeling — especially the moment that stole the show, when Will Smith walked onstage and slapped Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. 

People have a lot of opinions. So we talked to the creator of the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, April Reign, about what happened and the social media storm that followed. 

And while the Oscars are still trending, awards season isn’t over yet. This Sunday, the 2022 Grammy Awards air on CBS, and the music world is supplying its own brand of drama. Kanye West is banned from performing. Drake withdrew his Grammy noms. And some of the requirements for Grammy nominations and voting have changed. But what does any of this mean?  

To break down the controversies and get a quick look at contenders in the top categories, we speak with a few writers who give us their thoughts on what to expect at the Grammys. 

And while you’re here, we want to hear from you! Help us bring you the stories you want us to cover by checking out this quick listener survey.  

You’ll hear from:

April Reign, creator of #OscarsSoWhite hashtag and co-founder of She Will Rise

Allison Hussey, staff writer at Pitchfork

Oris Aigbokhaevbolo, film and music critic  

Joey Guerra, music critic at the Houston Chronicle 

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Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.