About a year after the slap scandal at the Oscars, comedian Chris Rock (58) commented. Speaking on Netflix live show Selective Outrage, which can be seen in excerpts on news site CNN and itvNews, he said: “Yeah, it happened, I was beaten at the Oscars a year ago. And people are asking now if it hurt. It still hurts!”
Anyone who says words hurt has never gotten a slap in the face.
Shortly thereafter, however, he made it clear: “I’m not a victim.” He will never whine about it on talk shows like The Oprah Winfrey Show. He also explained that he didn’t do anything about Smith the night of the slap because of his parents: “You know what my parents taught me? Don’t fight in front of white people.”
At the Oscar gala last year, US actor Will Smith (54, “King Richard”) slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage after he joked about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett’s hairstyle. Smith later apologized. He was banned from film academy events, including Oscars, for ten years after the fisticuffs.
See in the gallery: A slap dominates the 94th Academy Awards. Actor Will Smith first attacks comedian Chris Rock, then wins the Best Actor trophy. The other Oscar winners almost go under.