Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid condemned Will Smith after the actor attacked Chris Rock at the Oscars ceremony.
The 51-year-old broadcaster fronted today's edition of the ITV news programme alongside Richard Madeley. The two covered the dramatic moment from last night's 2022 Academy Awards.
The Best Actor winner stormed the stage and slapped the comedian after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's hair loss. A poll conducted by Good Morning Britain found more than half of viewers surveyed felt the slap was justified, but Susanna blasted the incident as "assault".
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She said: "I'm really struck by how many are defending it now and I bet in 24 hours they will have changed their view. That was an assault that we watched live on television."
Susanna later added: "It's not OK. It's not OK to hit someone in the face. I find it extraordinary that there is any justification for it."
Her co-host played devil's advocate - and suggested Chris Rock didn't understand the sensitivity of the topic.
Richard said: "I bring that forward as possible evidence. I'm not justifying what [Will Smith] did. I think you've just saw a human mistake unfurling live on television."
Ranvir Singh was reading the morning headlines on today's programme and commented that she hopes her nine-year-old son doesn't see the footage of the shocking moment.
She added: "I would tell my son that you've got to control your emotions."
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV and ITV Hub
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