BAFTA 2022: Richard Ayoade jokes about Will Smith's Oscars slap in opening monologue

Comedian Richard Ayoade presented the 2022 BAFTA TV Awards on Sunday and he took a savage dig at Will Smith’s infamous Oscar’s slap to Chris Rock in his opening monologue.

Presenting the show at the Royal Festival Hall in London, Ayoade told the audience, “BAFTA is celebrating 75 years at the heart of our industry, even though industries don’t have hearts.”

“In 1955, there were only six categories. Barely enough time to get up from your seat and slap someone before the whole ceremony would be over.”

As the audience laughed, he added, “Do not worry your overly-filmed heads, I’m not going to use your faces as punchlines or punchbags, you’ve suffered enough. No-one works harder than us, apart from people in other professions.”

“I’m putting in a couple of hours today, I’m exhausted,” said Ayoade.

It’s been over a month since the King Richard actor struck Rock at the Academy Awards after he made a joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith, which alluded to her shaved head.

Rock, during his recent performance at Caesars Palace in L. A., told the audience, “I am good. I got my hearing back. It wasn't as bad as it looked."