A year of pent-up silence from Chris Rock erupted onstage as he addressed the Will Smith Oscars slap for the first time in his live Netflix special, “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage.” The comedian insisted that the real person Will should be mad at is his wife Jada Pinkett Smith after her “entanglement” with R&B singer August Alsina. In this special, Chris also took on Meghan Markle’s claims of racism in the royal family.
Chris Rock’s Netflix comedy special made headlines for its candid commentary on the infamous Oscars slap by Will Smith. In the special, Chris Rock didn’t hold back, addressing the incident and taking aim at Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
The controversy began at the 2022 Oscars when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage after Rock made a joke about Jada. This incident sparked a year of public speculation and silence from Rock. In his special, Rock broke his silence with a blend of humor and pointed criticism. He emphasized the disproportionate response from Will, suggesting that Will’s anger was misdirected, saying, “The real person that Will should be mad at is his wife,” referencing Jada’s affair with singer August Alsina.
Jada and Will had previously addressed the affair on Jada’s show, “Red Table Talk,” where they famously referred to the situation as an “entanglement.” Rock used this term humorously in his special, pointing out the unique and uncomfortable nature of their public discussion about the affair. “None of us have ever been interviewed by the person that cheated on us on television,” Rock quipped, highlighting the unusual nature of the Smiths’ public airing of their private issues.
Rock also touched on Will Smith’s emotional appearance on “The Daily Show,” where Smith expressed regret for his actions. Rock mocked this public display of vulnerability, asserting, “You will never see me on Oprah or Gayle crying. You will never see it.” Rock’s approach was both humorous and scathing, reinforcing his stance on maintaining dignity in the public eye.
Rock’s special didn’t solely focus on the Smiths. He also took jabs at Meghan Markle and her claims of racism within the British royal family, suggesting that marrying a Kardashian would have been a better choice if she wanted acceptance.
The special, titled “Selective Outrage,” was Netflix’s first live comedy event and garnered significant attention. Fellow comedians and celebrities weighed in on the title and content. Arsenio Hall explained that “selective outrage” refers to inconsistent reactions to similar situations, a theme Rock explored in his special.
Despite the humor, the incident remains a significant moment in Hollywood. Richard Williams, whom Will Smith portrayed in his Oscar-winning role in “King Richard,” expressed his support for Smith, stating he believed Will handled the situation as best as he could. Will Smith has since made efforts to move past the incident, attending award shows and discussing the lessons learned from his role in “Emancipation.”
Courtney B. Vance, speaking at the American Black Film Festival Honors, noted that the community is still processing the incident and that it won’t be quickly forgotten. “It was a very traumatic thing we all went through,” he said, emphasizing the collective impact on both the Black and Hollywood communities.
In closing his special, Rock reflected on his upbringing and the values instilled by his parents, ending with a poignant reminder: “Don’t fight in front of white people.” The special received applause and laughter, marking Rock’s triumphant return to stand-up and his cathartic release of a year’s worth of tension.
