According to the Palm Springs Desert Sun, comedian Chris Rock said he would not talk about the controversial Oscars slap until he gets paid.
“I’m OK, I have a whole show, and I’m not talking about that until I get paid. Life is good. According to the outlet, I got my hearing back,” Rock said at his show in Indio, California, on Friday.
While on stage to present an award during the 94th Oscars last month, Chris Rock made a joke aimed at Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head.
“Jada, I love you, ‘GI Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it,” Rock said before Will Smith walked on stage and slapped Rock during the live broadcast before returning to his seat.
Smith, who after won the award for best actor, apologized to the Academy during his acceptance speech and later to Rock in a March 28 statement on Instagram.
“Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear, and I reacted emotionally. I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” Smith said. Pinkett Smith has been candid about her journey with alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss.
On Friday, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences announced that the “King Richard” actor would be barred from all Academy events, including the Oscars, for ten years for his actions — which he said he accepts, according to a statement provided to CNN.
Following the Oscars dispute, Rock’s 2022 “Ego Death World Tour” ticket sales went through the roof. Unlike his brother, Rock has yet to address the situation entirely, but during his stand-up show in Boston, Rock made his first public remarks at The Wilbur.
“I’m still processing what happened,” Rock reportedly said. “So at some point, I’ll talk about that shit. It’ll be serious. It’ll be funny, but right now, I will tell some jokes.”
