Venus Williams suffers a WARDROBE MALFUNCTION during live Oscars broadcast

Venus Williams suffers a WARDROBE MALFUNCTION during live Oscars broadcast... as pal Will Smith delivered his controversial acceptance speech after THAT shocking slap

Her big night was overshadowed after her collaborator Will Smith shocked the audience and viewers at home by slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.

And Venus Williams suffered another setback during the ceremony when she suffered a wardrobe malfunction that was briefly captured on the live ABC broadcast.

The 41-year-old tennis superstar arrived at Hollywood's biggest night in a stunning white Elie Saab gown, but it's skimpy plunging neckline failed her as she watched Smith deliver his controversial — and tearful — acceptance speech for Best Actor.

While Smith spoke on stage, the broadcast cut to Venus sitting with her sister Serena and watching raptly.

But fans online noticed that she had suffered a wardrobe malfunction, and her skimpy top appeared to have shifted to the side a bit, exposing her.

She had one arm up over her bust, possibly in an attempt to cover herself.

While the camera was on her, the ABC broadcast repeatedly cut to an Oscars logo, though it's unclear if it was related to her wardrobe malfunction.

Earlier, Will Smith had slapped presenter Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's hair, comparing it to Demi Moore's shaved head in G.I. Jane.

Jada had shaved her head in response to bald spots she developed from alopecia.

On Twitter, several viewers noted the brief exposure, though it was overshadowed by Smith attacking Rock earlier.

'Did anyone else see Venus Williams nip slip????' one user wondered aloud.

Another fan called out those around Venus — including Serena — for not noticing the wardrobe malfunction sooner.

'Ok so I know I couldn't be the only one who caught this but sheesh no one told my sis @Venuseswilliams that she had a nip slip!!!! I'm just saying I love her but who's around her cuz y' all failed my girl!!!' they wrote. '@serenawilliams where was you at???!!! Lol.'

Despite their concerns, it's not clear if anyone around her even saw the wardrobe malfunction, as they were all facing the stage and seemed to be in rapt attention as Smith spoke.

Some Twitter users joked about how the King Richard star sucked up all the attention that night.

'Will Smith's slap was so shocking that when Venus Williams' nippled popped out and no one cared,' one person tweeted.

'I feel like Venus Williams' nip slip would not even make a top 10 highlights package for this year's #Oscars,' joked another user.

Another at-home viewer thought the assault and the wardrobe malfunction had turned the Oscars into 'an episode of The Jersey Shore.'

One person summed up the chaotic ceremony with a screenshot of Bill Hader as Stefon from Saturday Night Live.

'"This Oscars has everything: Will Smith punching a presenter, a Pulp Fiction reunion, Venus Williams' nipple..."' they wrote, matching his usual cadence.

Despite her mishap, Venus was defiant and arrived at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in another stunning low-cut white dress.