Chris Rock and Will Smith. Andrew H. Walker/Shutterstock; Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock
Staying quiet. Chris Rock told an excited crowd that he wouldn’t be speaking out about getting slapped by Will SmithYou have to wait.
The comic, aged 57, surprised audiences in New York City by making a surprise appearance at Comedy Cellar on Tuesday, April 5.
“He literally only addressed it as the crowd was going wild for his surprise appearance, and he got on stage and said, ‘Lower your expectations. I’m not going to address that s–t,’” an eyewitness told Page Six.
Rock was just days away from the Oscars and performed several sold-out shows in Massachusetts. “What’s up, Boston?” the Everyone Hates ChrisDuring his March 30 comedy performance at the Wilbur Theater, creator questioned the audience. “How was your weekend?”
The Osmosis James actor noted, “I’m still processing what happened” before going on with his routine. Exclusively told by an eyewitness Use Weekly that the audience “laughed a lot and it really cut the tension” for Rock.
However, the next day’s show didn’t go as smoothly. Rock didn’t want to engage after a ticket holder yelled, “F–k Will Smith,” during the Thursday, March 31 show.
“No, no, no, no, no,” Rock replied before moving along with his set, according to multiple outlets.
That weekend, his tour headed to Atlantic City, New Jersey, not too far from 53-year-old Smith’s hometown of Philadelphia. “Chris broke the ice by sarcastically saying he’s had an interesting week,” an audience member at the April 2 show exclusively told Us. “Everyone laughed because they knew what he was referring to, of course.”
Rock quipped that he couldn’t speak out on the incident because of their location.
“He made a joke about how Atlantic City is too close to Philly for him to get into it,” the insider recalled. “The general vibe of the comment was that Atlantic City could be hostile territory because it’s so close to Philly. It was said in a casual joking way and everyone laughed.”
Rock was presenting the Oscars on March 27, when he made a joke out of it. Jada Pinkett SmithStarring in the movie is alopecia sufferer, G.I. Jane 2. Smith marched on stage and slapped Rock’s face. Smith later apologised for the incident.
“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” the HitchStar wrote the following via Instagram the day following the incident. “I was out of line and I was wrong. I am ashamed and my actions are not indicative the man I want. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
Smith, who won Oscar for best actor in a scene that involved slapping Rock and stealing his Oscar, resigned from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. They are investigating the incident and will determine the best course of disciplinary action.
