It is about to be a year since Will Smith took the liberty of slapping comedian Chris Rock in front of everyone at the 2022 Academy Awards. While giving his presentation, Chris Rock decided to crack a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head which she does owing to her Alopecia diagnosis. Comparing the actress to G.I. Jane didn’t sit right with Will Smith, which led to the whole fiasco.
And now, almost a year later, the rift between Will Smith and Chris Rock has not made any progress as the two are yet to talk it out. Although, we highly doubt that’s going to happen anytime soon! In his recent Netflix special, Chris Rock opens up about the controversy and he does it in the most Chris Rock way possible – through comedy.
Chris Rock Jokes about the Will Smith Controversy
Netflix saw Chris Rock starring in its first live-streamed global event with Chris Rock: Selective Outrage. While Rock hopped on from one topic to the other, he didn’t forget to talk about what happened at the 2022 Oscars. Toward the end of his performance in Selective Outrage, he truly opened up about it all as if he had been keeping it all in for a long time. Like a volcano, ready to erupt! Rock stated, “Will Smith practices selective outrage…Everybody that really knows, knows I had nothing to do with that sh*t. I didn’t have any entanglements.” With this statement, Rock took a dig at the affair Jada Smith had with their son’s friend.
Rock then turned his attention toward the actress and recalled an incident when she told Rock he should not host, as Will Smith didn’t get nominated for Concussion.
“She said I should quit because Will didn’t get nominated for Concussion. What the f*ck? So I did some jokes about her, who gives a f*ck? That’s how it is, she starts it, I finish it. That’s what the f*ck happened. Nobody’s picking on this b*tch. She started this sh*t, nobody’s picking on her. She said me, a f*cking grown a** man should quit his job because he wasn’t nominated for Concussion. Then he gives me a f*cking concussion!”
Rock continued that he has loved Smith his entire life and has rooted for the actor. However, after the incident, he watched his recently released film, Emancipation, for the sole purpose of seeing him “get whooped.” The comedian also addressed a question a lot of people have; why didn’t he do anything back? To this, Rock stated,
“Cause I got parents, that’s why. Cause I was raised. I got parents and you know what my parents taught me? Don’t fight in front of white people!”
So while the controversy is about to witness its one-year anniversary, Rock has made it quite clear that he has neither forgiven Smith nor his wife. Can Smith succeed in making everything A-okay between the couple and Rock?
Will Smith’s Unsuccessful Attempts at Restitution
Unlike Rock, Smith has talked about the incident quite a few times during interviews. He also uploaded a video titled ‘It’s been a minute’ on YouTube publically apologizing to Rock and his family. You can watch the apology video here:
Recently, a source told PEOPLE that the Suicide Squad actor has been feeling “terrible for so long” about his actions and stated that while Smith has tried to make things right, he has been majorly unsuccessful at doing so. The source added that with the help of his family, Smith is much better but is still disappointed in himself.
“He’s tried unsuccessfully to make amends in the best way he could with Chris. But beyond that, family is important to him and [Smith] leaned on them. It all has helped him look inside and mature. He is better but still remorseful. Will listened to those who tried to help him and feels that he has become a better person.”
With Smith’s apologies and the release of Rock’s Selective Outrage, will things ever get better between the two? For now, Smith won’t be seen at the upcoming Academy Awards as he is facing repercussions for his actions. The actor has been banned from attending any and all Academy events for ten years.
Chris Rock: Selective Outrage is available on Netflix.
Source: PEOPLE
