Chris Rock has spoken out for the first time on the incident that occurred at the Oscars when Will Smith slapped him live on stage, saying he’s ‘still processing’ what happened.
On Sunday evening, Rock was struck by Smith after he made a joke about the King Richard star’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith, referencing her shaved head despite her previously opening up about suffering from the hair loss condition alopecia.
While Smith, 53, has since apologised for his actions, the Academy condemned his behaviour and has launched a formal investigation, stating in a new statement that he was ‘asked to leave’ the ceremony but ‘refused’.
During a recent stand-up show, Rock, 57, said that he will talk more about the slap ‘at some point’, promising to deliver a ‘serious and funny’ comment.
While addressing the audience at his show in Boston, he said: ‘How was your weekend?
Rock said that he didn’t have a ‘bunch’ of things to say about what occurred, ‘so if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend’.
The comedian continued, stating: ‘I’m still kind of processing what happened.’
He said that he would talk about what happened ‘at some point’, adding: ‘And it will be serious and funny.’
Rock was reportedly given a standing ovation by the audience before beginning his set.
In a statement released by the Academy, the organisation said that ‘things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated’.
‘While we would like to clarify that Mr Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognise we could have handled the situation differently,’ they said.
The statement described Smith slapping Rock as ‘a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television’.
The Academy also apologised to Rock, thanking him for his ‘resilience in that moment’.
‘We also apologise to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event,’ it added.
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Don’t know why they are making a big deal out of the slap sef, Alec Baldwin has moved on with his life despite someone dying on set and there was no much noise
Life goes on