Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Chris Rock's first public comments since Oscars slap by Smith: "I’m still processing what happened"

Chris Rock's first public comments since Oscars slap by Smith: "I’m still processing what happened"

Comedian Chris Rock, in his first public comments since he was slapped in the face by actor Will Smith at the Oscars on Sunday, said he is “still processing” the incident that made headlines around the world.

How was YOUR weekend?” Rock asked on Wednesday night of a sold-out crowd at Boston's Wilbur Theatre. He made it clear from the onset he did not plan to address the Oscars incident at length.

Rock, 57, received a standing ovation from the Boston crowd.


I’m still processing what happened, so at some point, I'll talk about that shit," Rock told the crowd. "It'll be serious. It'll be funny, but right now I'm going to tell some jokes."

Let me be all misty and shit," Rock said, with tears in his eyes. "I don't have a bunch of shit to say about that, so if you came here for that...' he said, and paused. "I had written a whole show before this weekend."


Perhaps Rock's biggest revelation was his plan to get a vasectomy next week. He joked that he made his decision after seeing 78-year-old actor Robert De Niro drop off his 11-year-old daughter at school.

Chris Rock Chris Rock

"I've already seen Hannah Montana once and that was enough," Rock quipped.

At Sunday's Academy Awards, Rock was on stage to present the trophy for best documentary. He made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, that referenced the 1997 film "G.I. Jane" in which actress Demi Moore shaved her head. It was unclear whether Rock was aware that Pinkett Smith has a condition that causes hair loss.

Will Smith strode onto the stage and slapped Rock before winning best actor less than an hour later. The actor apologized to Rock and the academy in a statement on Monday.

Will Smith Will Smith

During his 80-minute set in Boston, Rock never mentioned Smith. Instead, he launched into a stream of profanity-laced barbs directed at Great Britain's royal family, Meghan Markle, former U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Subaru, Lululemon, and even his oldest daughter Lola.

"He came out swinging, but not about Will Smith," said Ramsay Fretz, a 32-year-old Boston real estate agent who sat in the balcony. "It's nice to see someone equally attack everybody."

After the slap that reverberated around the world, TickPick, an online marketplace for events, said it sold more tickets overnight to Rock's "Ego Death" tour than it did in the past month combined.

Balcony seat tickets with a face value of $61 fetched nearly $1,000 after Smith slapped Rock in front of nearly 17 million television viewers tuned into the Oscars.

Some attendees in Boston were disappointed that Rock refrained from verbally retaliating against Smith.

"You know, it was the elephant in the room," said audience member Jay Dee. "Everyone was waiting for the 'aha' moment that didn't come."

More For You

Jazzy J

My Playlist with Jazzy J

My Playlist with Jazzy J: The Songs That Move My Soul

From infectious Bollywood beats to the buzz of Manchester, Jazzy J has always lived life to a rhythm. He first hit the UK scene with his dance troupe Desi Beats — a name that’s followed him all the way to the airwaves. Today, he hosts The Desi Beats Show with Jazzy J on LycaRadio Greater Manchester. Known for his infectious energy and love of Bollywood grooves, Jazzy J keeps listeners moving with his signature mix of music and charm. After taking countless requests listeners, he’s now sharing 10 songs he truly loves with Eastern Eye.

Before making his selection, the popular host said: “Growing up in India in the 1990s in a musical family, whilst learning and listening to all the greats from the 60s onwards, opened my world to the vastness of music and the legends who ruled the different eras. These are songs I have sung, listen to and always turn back to when I need to escape the world and its chaos. Hopefully, my humble 10 will leave a mark on you as they have left on me.”

Keep ReadingShow less