2022 Oscars saw second lowest viewership in show’s history, report shows

Despite the physical altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards going viral, this did not do anything to boost the viewing figures for the Oscars.

Nielsen reports that the 2022 Oscars received an average of 16.6 million viewers, the second lowest-viewed ceremony in its history.

The only noticeable increase in viewership throughout the Sunday broadcast was during the 11 p.m. and 11:14 p.m. slot, the approximate time that Smith won the Academy Award for Best Actor. During that frame, the number of viewers increased to 17.4 million.

Smith has since publicly apologized to Rock for the incident, calling violence “poisonous and destructive,” no matter the form or justification.

“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” Smith wrote on Instagram. “I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”

Smith also resigned from the academy over the incident. The Academy convened for an emergency meeting on Monday, but no disciplinary action has been taken against Smith at this stage.

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