Until Chris Rock takes a seat at the Red Table, his stand-up shows are his way of responding to the slap at the Oscars — and possibly Will Smith’s final apology.
Hours after the “King Richard” star broke his silence with an apology video following a month-long hiatus from the public eye, the comedian took the stage at Atlanta’s Fox Theater as part of his Ego Death World Tour.
While Rock didn’t directly address Smith’s heartfelt six-minute video, according to People, he delivered a pointed message about how “everybody’s trying to be a fucking victim.”
“If everyone claims to be a victim, no one will hear the real victims. Even I got hit by Suge Smith,” he told the crowd, referring to Marion “Suge” Knight, co-founder of Death Row Records, who is currently serving a 28-year sentence for murdering a man. “I went to work the next day, I have kids.”
“Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face,” Rock added, making the same remark about “cancellation culture” he’s shared at previous concerts.
Rock has refrained from sharing his side of the story since Smith took the stage at the Oscars in March. Before presenting the award, the comedian made a callous joke about the shaved head of Jada Pinkett Smith, who has spoken publicly about her alopecia.
Smith, however, is more responsive. In his recent video, the actor answered various questions about the scandalous moment, including whether he had reached out to Rock, who he said was “not ready to talk.”
“It’s all a blur,” Smith noted of his memories of the night. “I’ll tell you, Chris, I apologize. My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here when you’re ready to talk.
He also addressed speculation about his wife’s role in the incident.
“I made the choice myself, from my own experience, from my history with Chris,” he said. “Jada had nothing to do with it. I’m sorry, dear.
The actor added that after months of reflection, he is still “trying to show remorse without being ashamed” of his actions and apologized to his family, fellow nominees and fans in general.
“Disappointing people is my main trauma. I hate when I let people down,” he said. “It hurts me psychologically and emotionally to know that I don’t live up to people’s image and impression of me.”
Shortly after the Academy Awards ceremony, the star voluntarily resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which has since banned him from attending the awards and other related events for the next decade.
Smith is expected to face more attention when his new film Emancipation, from Training Day director Antoine Fuqua, arrives “later this year or early next year,” according to Deadline, after the project has been delayed due to the slapstick controversy.
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