Chris Rock finally addresses the infamous ‘slap’ incident, one year after actor Will Smith slapped him on a global stage at the Academy Awards. The 58-year-old speaks at length about the incident during Netflix’s first live comedy show, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage:
People ask ‘Did it hurt?’. It still hurts…I got Summertime ringing in my ears. But I’m not a victim baby, you’ll never see me on Oprah crying. You will never see it. Never going to happen
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The comedian did not hold back his punches, accusing Will Smith of ‘selective rage’ during a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. He adds that Smith lashed out at a ‘shorter man’ because his wife cheated on him:
Everybody that really knows, knows I had nothing to do with that. I didn’t have any entanglements
Smith later apologised to Rock following the incident. Smith is banned 10-years from attending any Academy events or programmes.
The incident has become a cultural catalyst for talks about America’s ‘appetite’ for casual violence. This as Smith remained at the ceremony after the slap, and later accepted his first-ever Oscar for Best Actor.
‘#SelectiveOutrage is my new favourite hashtag’ – Js19 (@jsofa) March 6, 2023
#SelectiveOutrage is my new favorite hashtag
— Js19 (@jsofa) March 6, 2023
Chris Rock is praised for maintaining his sense of professionalism after the incident.
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Will Smith’s Selective Outrage
Chris Rock: Selective Outrage saw the titular comedian tackle a number of issues including Meghan Markle, politics and woke culture:
I’m going to try to do the show without offending anyone…Because you never know who might get triggered
He adds:
(America) is so screwed up right now if the Russians came here right now, half the country would go ‘let’s hear them out’
But Rock did not stop there. He also used the platform to make a claim about Pinkett Smith. He says the Gotham actress tried to force him to quit hosting the Oscars in 2016…because Will Smith did not get nominated for Best Actor.
Rock ignored her request. Later, while hosting that year’s ceremony, he took a jibe at Pinkett Smith’s expense. This resurfaced during the last Oscar’s incident:
Years ago, his wife said I should quit the Oscars. I shouldn’t host ’cause her man didn’t get nominated for Concussion. And then he gives me a f***ing concussion
Real-life King Richard Supports Smith
It will not be so easily forgotten how the King Richard actor climbed the stage, and slapped Chris Rock across the face. In case you did forget…
Moments later, Will Smith received an Oscar for Best Actor for his role the biopic film ‘King Richard’.
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Real-life Richard Williams defends Will Smith over the slap. The father of Venus and Serena Williams told Good Morning Britain that he did not ‘feel sorry’ for what happened to Rock. The 81-year-old says:
I think he has done the best thing he needed to do, but I would never be disgusted with Mr Smith. Matter of fact, I appreciate Mr Smith…I don’t see nothing wrong with that
This year’s Oscars, the 95th Academy Awards will air on March 12 in LA. Jimmy Kimmel is expected to be the host.
