Featured Image Credit: Netflix / REUTERS / Alamy Stock Photo
Topics: Will Smith, Chris Rock, Oscars, Celebrity
Niamh Spence
Topics: Will Smith, Chris Rock, Oscars, Celebrity
Comedian Chris Rock has finally responded to the infamous slap from Will Smith at the Oscars, almost a year on from the event.
As he prepares for his latest Netflix special Selective Outrage, Rock has addressed the exchange as he turns it into comedy for his upcoming live Netflix special, dropping on March 4.
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Speaking in a warm up workshop in South Charleston, the star shared: "The thing people want to know: did it hurt? Hell yeah, it hurt."
Yet the Madagascar star couldn't let the opportunity for a joke pass him by as he referenced Smith's role in the biopic of Muhammad Ali, quipping: "He played Muhammad Ali! I played Pookie!"
Referencing his own role in Madagascar and Smith's role in Shark Tale, he added: "Even in animated movies, I’m a zebra, he’s a f**king shark."
Rock also turned Smith's music into a joke as he said: "I got hit so hard I heard 'Summertime' ringing in my ears."
The new comedy comes almost a year after the shock slap from Smith during the 2022 Oscars, where Rock played host.
At the 2022 ceremony, Rock made a comment directed to Will Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith as he joked about her shaved head.
Rock said: "Jada, I love you, G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it!"
Will Smith leapt to his wife's defence, as Pinkett-Smith has been diagnosed with alopecia, resulting in hair loss.
Heading onto the stage, Smith hit Rock twice before returning to his seat and shouting back: "Keep my wife's name out of your f***ing mouth!"
Later during the ceremony, which saw Smith win the Best Actor Oscar for his lead role in King Richard, he apologised to the Academy and other nominees, but made no reference to Rock.
Will Smith apologised after the incident, and has also resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The move came ahead of being issued a 10-year ban from the Oscars.
After the Oscars, Smith said: "I made a choice on my own from my own experiences, from my history with Chris. I want to say sorry to my kids and my family for the heat that I've brought on all of us.
"I've reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he's not ready to talk, and when he is he will reach out.
"So I will say to you, Chris, I apologise to you. My behavior was unacceptable, and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk."
Chris Rock's live Netflix special Selective Outrage will air on March 4.