Chris Rock Responds to Will Smith Oscars Slap: ‘I’m Still Processing What Happened’
Stars across the industry have shared their thoughts on the moment Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, but the comedian at the center of the drama has stayed quiet — until now.
Rock briefly addressed the incident on Wednesday, March 30 during his two stand-up comedy shows in Boston. In the first show of the night, the audience at the Wilbur Theater greeted Rock with a thunderous standing ovation, which lasted for nearly two minutes, according to Variety. “Yo, let me do the show!” Rock joked as the crowd continued their applause.
Eventually, Rock started his show by talking about the moment on everybody’s minds. “How was your weekend?” he said to much laughter from his fans. However, he made it clear that he doesn’t have a bunch of material about the Oscars drama. “So if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend,” he explained. “I’m still kind of processing what happened. So, at some point, I’ll talk about that s***. And it will be serious and funny.”
Rock would continue with this usual set from there, apparently ignoring a chant of “F*** Will Smith” from a particularly rowdy crowd member. “I’m going to tell some jokes,” he said. “It’s nice to just be out.” However, he did briefly touch on the topic again in his second performance of the night, noting that he and Smith haven’t spoken since what happened. “I haven’t talked to anyone despite what you may have heard,” Rock stated.
Members of the media surrounded the Wilbur Theater on Wednesday, hoping to get a comment from the Grown Ups star. At the same time, the Academy confirmed that Smith has been given 15 days’ notice of a vote regarding his violations and the chance to respond in writing.
“At the next board meeting on April 18, the Academy may take any disciplinary action, which may include suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct,” the Academy said (via Deadline) following a virtual board meeting on Wednesday.
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He may not have known about her condition and it was a GI Jane joke, I don't see the harm. He is a comedian and the joke was harmless.
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Honestly will Smith was in the wrong he even thought the joke was funny Jada just controlling
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Will Smith acted like an adolescent period. Jada egged him on and was smirking when it was all said and done. The week before all happened Jada was loud and proud of how she loved her look no matter what anyone else thought. Cudos to Chris Rock for being a professional adult throughout all of this.
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Chris Rock was wrong.He wasn't on stage to make jokes.He forgot that he was at a Academy Award's.There's a time for jokes and a time for respect. Will Smith just reacted with out thinking.Jada is his wife and would do anything for her and yes even to protect her from stupid jokes and if someone made fun of any of y'all's men wife's.I think y'all would of done the same.That's if you love and respect your other half.Chris Rock should apologize to Jada and Will Smith.
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EVEN if Chris Rock didn't know about Jada Pinkett Smith's medical condition before the show (although it seems like it was pretty common knowledge in the community - although he is a comedian, not an actor), he knows now and I believe that he owes her a face-to-face apology. I haven't heard a word about him feeling badly for distressing her. Does not excuse Will Smith's behavior.
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"He didn't know about her medical condition" is as lame as "it was a joke". I'm also done with all the people who say "Have you ever been to a comedy club?". Even if the Academy can't do any better for entertainment than comedians, they should still make clear what they expect and at least review the jokes being told on a live broadcast. It's an awards show. Why bring in Chris Rock to tear people down? Why have Amy Schumer pretend not to know Kristen Dunst? This mess is the Academy's fault. Even if they aren't big enough to take the blame, they owe all of us an apology.
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Chris Rock should know better than make fun of someone's medical problems unless he has that person's consent. That was a very nasty comment, and although I don't normally condone violence, I also don't think a slap in the face is too much a reaction to what was said. Men are probably too upset because men don't usually slap men, and that's a slap in the face to their manhood, now if he'd punched him . . . that would have been too much. Just out of curiosity, did Rock break HIPPA laws by publicly pointing out, on National TV, someone's medical problem?
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With all due respect, you are making a huge assumption he knew about her medical condition. Most persons didn't know including me, did you? Did Chris Rock? And regardless it was a joke, it was words...slapping is a whole different thing and crosses the line. We've all been told keep your hands to yourself. You can't control what people say and quite honestly I've heard far more inappropriate and insensitive jokes again assuming he knew about her condition. Let's not condone bad behavior it was uncalled for and at the end of the day caused more commotion and uproar then if he had just let the joke ride and confront him afterwards man to man...not sucker punch him with a slap.
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HIPPA only applies to medical professionals.
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I think Chris Rock owes Will and moreso Jada an apology.
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