Will Smith was the subject of 25 times more Google searches than « CODA, » the Oscar best picture winner, after the actor slapped Chris Rock.
Ordinarily on an Oscars Sunday, the peak interest in Hollywood’s big awards show is around the top winners. But this year was… different. According to data from Google, in the 11 p.m. ET hour on March 27, Will Smith was the subject of 25 times more internet searches than “CODA,” Apple’s groundbreaking film that became the first movie from a streaming service to win the best picture Oscar (see chart below). Google searches for Smith peaked after the actor smacked comedian Chris Rock during ABC’s Oscars telecast — responding to Rock’s impromptu joke about Jada Pinkett Smith — followed minutes later by Smith winning the Oscars actor trophy for his turn in “King Richard.
