Chris Rock Will Speak On Will Smith Oscars Slap — On One Condition
Indio, CA – Comedian Chris Rock is currently on the Ego Death World Tour, taking his signature brand of humor across the country for shows in Boston, Las Vegas, Denver, Seattle and others. The run just happened to kick off not long after Will Smith smacked the crap out of Rock for making a G.I. Jane joke about Jada Pinkett during the 94th Annual Academy Awards.
While Smith has publicly apologized to Rock, resigned from the Academy and been banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years, Rock has yet to really speak on the incident — and it looks like that won’t be changing anytime soon. During a sold-out show at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California on Friday (April 8), Rock briefly touched on the slap and said he’d only discuss it in detail if he was getting a bag.
“I’m OK, I have a whole show, and I’m not talking about that until I get paid,” he reportedly said during his set. “Life is good. I got my hearing back.”
Chris Rock performed to a sold-out room in Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, where he received a standing ovation.
https://t.co/638x4Ykhms— The Desert Sun (@MyDesert) April 9, 2022
The Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences held a disciplinary meeting earlier this month and announced their decision on April 8. Smith is now banned from all Academy events, including the Oscars, for 10 years due to his physical assault on Rock.
According to Variety, Smith who will likely get to keep his Best Actor Oscar for his performance in King Richard because the Oscars has “no legal authority to claim” his award as part of disciplinary action. The ban will not affect Smith’s eligibility to be nominated or win Oscar awards in the future.
Smith replied to the decision in a statement in which he wrote, “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.”