Chris Rock addresses the slap
After seemingly every celebrity shared their perspective on the incident where Will Smith assaulted Chris Rock at the Oscars, Rock has addressed the topic for the first time publicly.
The comedian revealed he was “still processing” the incident at the start of one of his standup shows in Boston on Wednesday night, as reported by 9Honey.
Footage and audio of the start of the show was also shared on social media by audience members and media outlets, including the New York Post and in the tweet below.
After appearing on stage in an all-white suit to thunderous applause from the crowd, he addressed the thing that was sure to be at the front of everyone’s minds.
“How was your weekend?” he began, prompting a wave of laughter.
“I don’t have a bunch of s**t about what happened, so if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend.
“I’m still kind of processing what happened. So, at some point I’ll talk about that s**t. And it will be serious and funny.”
One audience member chanted, “F**k Will Smith!” before Rock continued on with the show.
“I’m going to tell some jokes. It’s nice to just be out,” he said.
Outside the theatre, at least a dozen local broadcast journalists had set up, arriving up to two hours before showtime to catch a glimpse of Rock.
Chris Rock arrived at the Wilbur Theatre for his standup show to journalists and religious leaders, as many hoped to hear his side of the story. Image: Getty Images
Local religious leaders also gathered outside before the show to make a statement about “the incident regarding our brothers” and to “send a message that violence is not the way to resolve conflict”.
“This is a teachable moment so we end the cycle of violence that is underreported in the Black community,” Kevin C. Peterson, the founder of the non-partisan, non-profit organisation New Democracy Coalition, told reporters.
Rock’s performances at the State Theatre in Boston, ahead of his “Ego Death World Tour” which starts next month, were sold out and were in especially high demand as many anticipated it would be the first time he would publicly address the incident.
With tickets originally starting at $USD 49.50 (approximately $AUD 66), they began to sell for as much as $USD 800 to $USD 8000 (between $AUD 1068 and 10686) on secondary sites such as StubHub and TickPick, which recorded record demand and sales.
It comes just a day after Smith issued an apology to Rock, and as many criticise the Fresh Prince star and the audience for letting a person assault another on-stage without any repercussions.
Image: Getty Images