Why Would Will Smith Stage an Event to Damage His Reputation?

There are a great many people who believe Will Smith's slap of Chris Rock at the Oscars on Sunday night was "staged".

From where I sit, the most obvious question is why would Smith stage an event that would result in damage to his reputation?

If in the highly unlikely event it was staged to what end would it serve? Are they planning on appearing in a movie together? If that was the angle then it is one that got our attention, but I think it's giving them far too much credit. 

Perhaps people watch too much pro wrestling (I've certainly watched my share). I've watched enough to know when it is staged it is for a specific payoff namely for the babyface to get his or her righteous vengeance on the heel. This isn't Jerry Lawler slapping Andy Kaufman on Late Night with David Letterman. Why would Smith cast himself as a heel?

The long and the short of it is that Will Smith stood absolutely nothing to gain by staging an assault in front of a global audience. After all, Smith won the Oscar but he will not be remembered for that triumph (except perhaps for his self-serving speech about being "a fierce defender of his family" like Richard Williams). 

Although while one might question the sincerity of Smith's belated apology to Rock yesterday that wasn't staged either. That was damage control.