Preliminary figures revealed Monday that the 2022 Academy Awards drew 56% more viewers than last year’s program, according to data from Nielsen.
Despite the jump from 9.85 million to 15.3 million people, the show didn’t make significant gains toward its past viewership. The Sunday night event is the second least-watched Oscars in history.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, viewership always remained above 20 million people. In 2020, the audience began dwindling, with a crowd of 23.6 million watching at home. In 2021, viewership reached a historic low.
WATCH: FOLLOWING OSCARS SLAP, WILL SMITH DANCES AT AFTER-PARTY
According to a report, interest significantly increased after news of Will Smith’s attack on Chris Rock made its way to social media during the last hour of the broadcast.
The show garnered a reported 3.2 rating from adults between 18 and 49.
The most talked about event of the night is the slap, when Smith struck Rock for making a joke at his wife’s expense.
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In a public verbal exchange afterward, Smith said, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.” A startled Rock continued the show, announcing the winner for Best Documentary like nothing happened.
