Chris Rock is now best known as the man who was slapped by Will Smith at the Oscar’s.
The 57-year-old used to be a well-known comedian and actor, but that’s ancient history—it belongs to Rock’s pre-slap incarnation. Now, and forever after, Chris Rock will be known as the man whose face encountered Will Smith’s open hand in a decidedly ungentle fashion.
In the latest update on the Hollywood kerfuffle, the famous recipient of the “slap heard around the world” is keeping quiet about the notorious affair. Rock’s most recent public appearance was on Tuesday night when the comedian showed up for a surprise stand-up performance at New York City’s Comedy Cellar.
However, despite his enthusiastic welcome by a thrilled audience, Rock made it known right off the bat that he was not interested in weighing in on the Will Smith controversy.
“Lower your expectations,” he reportedly told the crowd, according to a Page Six informant. “I’m not going to address that sh*t.”
Nevertheless, Rock insists his protracted silence on the matter is due simply to a need to take stock of what happened and sort out his own feelings on the incident.
“I had a whole show before this weekend,” he joked in another appearance last week. “I’m still processing.”
During his surprise set at the Comedy Cellar, Rock told the audience that he would speak about the Smith slap at some point, “but right now I’m going to tell some jokes.”
And, true to form, that’s precisely what he proceeded to do.
The cynical might observe that Rock has a vested interest in not speaking about the incident anytime soon. After all, his “Ego Death” comedy tour, which kicked off last week, sold out in the wake of the Will Smith wallop.
Each time Rock appears at a show, there’s an eager expectation that he’ll finally dish about his experience; and each time he refuses to do so, he keeps building up anticipation for the next appearance. It’s a savvy business move if that’s his angle.
Things got even saucier during Rock’s comedy show in Boston last Thursday night. In what was likely a rather tasteless show of support for the comedian, one fan shouted “F*ck Will Smith!”
According to People magazine, however, Rock wasn’t having any of it: “No, no, no, no, no…” he said, squelching that sort of thing right away.
But he did address rumors that he and Smith had buried the hatchet. “I haven’t talked to anyone,” he said, “despite what you heard.”
In the meantime, the backlash against Smith has been harsh.
On Friday, the superstar actor resigned from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. He lamented his behavior at the Oscar’s ceremony, saying it was “shocking, painful and inexcusable.” He also said he would submit to whatever punishments the Academy’s Board of Governors saw fit to mete out.
Will Smith’s resignation statement: pic.twitter.com/MdCCtXjkkM
— Sharon Carpenter (@sharoncarpenter) April 1, 2022
“The list of those I have hurt is long,” he went on to say, “and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home.
“I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken.”
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16 thoughts on “Chris Rock does surprise set at NYC’s Comedy Cellar, has message for audience about Oscars slap”
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If people havent figured it out yet. I all was staged by the Academy. Their ratings for television has been circling the drain for years now. They wanted to give the world something to talk about. They used one of the best actors in the world to pull it off. We the public are the ones that have been slapped.
BINGO !!!!!!
It was staged for ratings because the Hollywood whores are no longer watched . Bye and good riddance AHOLES .
Will smith leaving the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences is meaningless. Now ifhewithdrawfromthemoviepictureguild-unionthwtwouldbethecatsmeow.
Hes not saying anything about it because its all a lie. Its a hoax. If he says something then he will be lying about it and he doesnt want to get caught up into this. Will Smith pulled that slap and it never connected. You can see it in the video if you look closely and proceed frame by frame. Also when Rock got slapped he replyed almost immediately upon being supposedly assualted. Watch how fast he gives the now famous response of I just got the s–t slapped outta me by Will Smith. Or something close to that. Besides , the focus is on the speed of his response. You get slapped that hard , your gonna flinch and grab your face and say something like “Damn”! But your not gonna go on with a long line. Your hurting. Thats all your mind is gonna be on. Not to mention that they have been coached in the art of fighting and how to draw a punch and where to put the camera so that you cant see it from the wrong view. I think they both cooked this up for publicity. Mr and Mrs Smollet pulled it off on the Oscars.
The smith’s are both narcissists; NO, money and fame can’t buy intelligence or class, which neither have. LOL
Rock is a GUTLESS WONDER who doesn’t have the balls to do what ANY REAL MAN would do in this situation ! Have Smith CHARGED and then SUE him for every penny he’s got !
I would start out my routine with “You know, Will Smith hits like a little girl and I have proof”!
No, Will, you can’t apologize. Jada ‘ s looking for a rapper hood that’ll talk trash and commit violence.
OBVIOUSLY if Smith was ANY GOOD in the sack or anywhere else she wouldn;t be out there BANGING half of Hollyweird !
You can take him out of the ghetto but ya can’t take the ghetto out of him
Ooooh he is heart broken? Smith is such a punk he is trying to play victim now….what a punk
Smith did irreparable harm to Chris Rock when he slapped him in front of an International TV audience. He needs to sue him for hundreds of millions of dollars and crush this moron like a bug!
Insane.
They will milk this set up for all it’s worth. And it still can’t save hollywood and oscars
Who’s milking this? Our media? Yep!
You know, like there are no other news.