Chris Rock Has Nothing To Say About Will Smith Slap Until He Gets Paid

Chris Rock news shows that the comedian was slapped onstage at the 94th annual Academy Awards last month after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. Her husband Will Smith then walked from his seat to the stage and slapped Rock across the face.

The live and television audiences were left stunned, unsure to laugh or gasp, wondering if this was a scripted joke or an act of spontaneous violence.

Chris Rock News – Chris Rock Is Silent

The whole thing unraveled as Rock was set to present the Best Documentary Feature award to Questlove. Rock uttered a line about bald Pinkett Smith and the G.I. Jane movie. Pinkett Smith, The Red Table Talk cohost, has alopecia. That’s when Smith walked up to Rock, cameras rolling and slapped the Everybody Hates Chris alum. Smith returned to his seat and shouted profanities, twice yelling, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—king mouth.”

What has Chris Rock said about the incident? Very little.

Chris Rock News – Chris Rock Was Slapped

He’s currently on a comedy tour, and at a April 9 appearance in Palm Springs, California, he said, “I’m OK, I have a whole show and I’m not talking about that until I get paid. Life is good. I got my hearing back,” according to the Desert Sun newspaper.

While he has remained relatively silent on the matter, others have been talking plenty.

Oscars producer Will Packer told Good Morning America: “I said, ‘Did he really hit you?’ and [Chris] looked at me and goes, ‘Yeah! I just took a punch from Muhammad Ali.’ He was immediately in joke mode but you could tell that he was very much still in shock.”

Chris Rock News – Was Rock In Shock?

The issue remains in the headlines as days later Smith, who accepted an Oscar minutes after slapping Rock, issued a public apology to Rock and resigned from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

The Men In Black star wrote on Instagram: “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness. I would also like to apologize to The Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees, and everyone watching around the world.”

What are the consequences for Smith assaulting Rock? Rock reportedly declined to file a police report and The Academy has decreed that Will can’t attend the Oscars for 10 years; he gets to keep the Oscar he won that night.

For his part Smith responded on Friday, April 8: “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.”

Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Chris Rock. Come back here often for Chris Rock news and updates.