Months after being slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars in 2022, comedian Chris Rock recently addressed the infamous altercation. Chris said he is not a victim during his performance at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, but joked that getting slapped by Smith on the Oscar stage hurt, according to Variety.
“Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face…I`m not a victim. Yeah, that shit hurt, motherf***er. But I shook that shit off and went to work the next day. I don’t go to the hospital for a paper cut,” he mentioned.
Kevin Hart, who is close friends with Chris Rock and Will Smith, stated earlier this month that he hopes both of them can’move past’ the violent event.
For the uninitiated, comedian Chris made a joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head while presenting the best documentary feature award at the 2022 Oscars. Chris expressed excitement about seeing Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia areata, star in ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ prompting Smith to go up on stage and slap Chris. “Keep my wife’s name out of your fu**ing mouth!” Smith yelled as he returned to his seat.
Smith was named Best Actor at the 94th Academy Awards just minutes after the incident. Smith apologised to the Academy and fellow nominees while accepting his first Oscar for best actor (leading role) in ‘King Richard,’ but did not mention Chris.
Smith, however, issued an apology to Chris Rock and Academy on his social media handle after receiving backlash for his disorderly behaviour. “Chris, I’d like to publicly apologise to you. I was out of line and incorrect. I’m embarrassed, and my actions did not reflect the man I want to be. Violence has no place in a world of love and kindness “Smith posted to Instagram.
“All forms of violence are poisonous and destructive. My behaviour at the Academy Awards last night was both unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes about my medical condition are common on the job, but one about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear, and I reacted emotionally “Smith apologised in his apology.
I’d also like to apologise to the Academy, the show’s producers, all attendees, and everyone watching around the world. I’d like to apologise to the Williams and King Richard families. I deeply regret that my actions have marred what has otherwise been a beautiful journey for all of us. “I’m still a work in progress,” he said.
Because of the slap, Smith has been barred from membership in the Academy for ten years.
