Nicole Kidman’s Oscars 'reaction' has 'nothing to do' with Will Smith's slap

A photo of Nicole Kidman's shocked expressions at the Oscars ceremony has been doing the rounds, however, it had nothing to do with Will Smith smacking Chris Rock on stage.

The photographer of the iconic image has clarified that the photo in question was taken before Smith and Rock's on-stage showdown.

In an exclusive interview with Vulture, the Los Angeles Times photographer Myung Chun who clicked Kidman’s iconic photo disclosed the context behind the image.

“The picture of Nicole Kidman was taken during the break time. It appeared that she was excited to see fellow actress Jessica Chastain across the room,” Chun remarked, adding that Chastain walked over to greet Kidman and her husband Keith Urban at 2022 Oscars.

In the photo, Kidman is seen with her jaw dropped and eyes wide open. The photo soon grabbed the attention of the audience as well as gaining traction on social media.