Will Smith hits Chris Rock on Oscars stage defending his 'wife' Jada Pinkett Smith

Will Smith slapped Chris Rock in the face on stage at the Oscars after the comic made a joke about the actor's wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

"Jada, can't wait for GI Jane 2," he said, in an apparent reference to her shaved hairdo - a result of the hair loss condition alopecia.

Will Smith walked on stage and struck Rock before returning to his seat and shouting: "Keep my wife's name out of your [expletive] mouth."

He later apologised to the Academy. In a tearful acceptance speech for best actor, he also said he wanted to apologise to all his fellow nominees. There was no specific apology for Rock.

The star picked up the first Oscar of his career for playing the father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard.

"Art imitates life," he said. "I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things."

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars, tweeted that it "does not condone violence of any form".

Watch the shocking moment below!