‘Everyone’s trying to be victims’: Chris Rock mocks Will Smith’s apology for Oscar slap

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Just hours after Will Smith apologized to Chris Rock on social media for his controversial Oscar slap in response to an inappropriate joke about his wife, The Rock performed on stage at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. And during his stand-up show, he could not help but touch on the remorse of his offender. In his monologue, the comedian compared Smith to the former head of Death Row Records, Suge Knight, who liked to let his hands go for nothing. The latest incident – his showdown with Heavyweight Records co-founder Teri Carter and director friend Cle Sloan ended tragically. In a fit of rage and under the influence of drugs, Knight ran over the men in his pickup truck. One of them died, and Shug himself received 28 years in prison.

Everyone is trying to be a victim. If everyone claims to be victims, then no one will hear the real victims. I even got slapped by Shug… I went to work the next day, I have kids,” Chris Rock said from the stage.

And later he added that if you have to answer for words, then definitely not with physical violence.

Anyone who speaks words that hurt should never get punched in the face,” Rock added.

Chris Rock and Will Smith

Recall that after Will Smith hit the host, comedian Chris Rock during the Oscar ceremony for a joke about his wife Jada, many viewers, as well as colleagues, condemned him. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also noted that violence in any form is unacceptable. Will Smith himself apologized twice. Once when he received an Oscar for his role in the film “King Richard”, and the second – publicly on social networks, making a statement.

Jokes about me are part of the job, but the joke about Jada’s health was unbearable for me, so I reacted emotionally. I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I crossed the line and I was wrong,” he said.

Last Friday, four months after the incident, he Smith repeated his words of apology. And at the same time he explained what really happened.

That evening I lost my mind. Everything was in a blur… Later, of course, I contacted Chris, but in response I received a message in which he said that he was not ready to talk now. And when it’s ready, you’ll be in touch. So I want to tell you now, Chris. I am very sorry to you. My behavior was unacceptable! I also want to apologize to Chris’ mother. I saw the interview given by Chris’ mother. And at that moment it was one of the things that I just did not realize. I wasn’t thinking about how many people were hurt at that moment. So I want to apologize to Chris’ mother. I want to apologize to Chris’ family. Specifically in front of Tony Rock. We had a great relationship. Tony Rock was my man. And it’s probably irreparable.”