Chris Rock has finally opened up about his side of the story, a year after the shocking Oscar slap scandal. During a recent live Netflix comedy special, the comedian spoke at length about how he felt after the incident.
The infamous incident saw Rock being slapped onstage by Will Smith after he joked about his wife’s bald condition during the 2022 Academy Awards. Though the host continued with his performance at the time and declined pressing charges against Smith later, he has now revealed that he is still hurt.
Chris Rock Opens Up About Oscar Slap Scandal for the First Time
Rock, 58, was performing his gig at Netflix’s first live global streaming event, Selective Outrage, from the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore on Saturday when he expressed his thoughts on the Oscars 2022 incident that shocked millions of viewers, along with celebrities around the world.
“Everybody knows, yes it happened, I got slapped a year ago – I got smacked by this motherf***er. And people are like, ‘Did it hurt?’ It still hurts. I’ve got Summertime ringing in my ears,” Rock said as he appeared frustrated.
He went on to reveal that he would not like to be treated as a victim. “I am not a victim. You will never see me on Oprah or Gayle crying. Never going to happen…I took that hit like [boxer Manny] Pacquiao. I took it like motherf***ing Pacquiao. Did it hurt? Yeah motherf***er.”.
Rock Says Will Smith Practices ‘Selective Outrage’
The comedian further said that he believed Smith’s reaction had more to do with his wife Jada’s cheating rather than his joke on her. “Will Smith practices selective outrage. Everybody knows what the f*** happened. And everybody really knows I had nothing to do with that shit. I didn’t have any ‘entanglements,’” he stated.
“His wife was f***ing his son’s friend, OK? I normally would not talk about this shit, but for some reason … [they] put that shit on the internet. I have no idea why two talented people would do something that lowdown. What the f***? Everybody in here has been cheated on.”
“None of us have ever been interviewed by the person that cheated on us on television … She hurt him way more than he hurt me. Everybody called that man a bitch … and who’s he hit? Me,” he said as the audience burst into laughter.
The Comedian Reveals He did not Retaliate to the Slap Because of his Upbringing
“I loved Will Smith, my whole life I loved him. I saw him open for Run DMC … he has made some great movies. I have rooted for Will Smith my whole life. And now I watch Emancipation just to see him get whooped,” the comedian further joked.
Talking about why he did not retaliate to the slap onstage, Rock said it was because of his parents. “Because I was raised. And you know what my parents taught me? Don’t fight in front of white people,” he said, ending the show.
After the incident in March last year, Smith apologized to Rock on Instagram, saying, “I was out of line, and I was wrong. I am embarrassed, and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be.” A few days later, Rock had expressed, “I’m still kind of processing what happened. So at some point I’ll talk about that shit. And it will be serious and funny.”
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