The Slap Still Stings for Chris Rock

We’re but a week away from the 2023 Oscars, and for some reason, we’re still discussing last year’s slappening.

In case you forget (or tried to), Will Smith struck Chris Rock in the middle of the 2022 Academy Awards after the comedian joked about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia.

In the aftermath, Smith has since issued several apologies, the Academy held an investigation and banned Smith for ten years, and most recently, the Oscars brought in a crisis team to prevent another slap-level incident.

Outside of a quip here and there during his Ego Death comedy tour, Rock kept his usual lowkey profile and remained mum on the matter.

“I’m not talking about that until I get paid,” Rock stated. “At some point, I’ll talk about that shit. And it will be serious and funny.”

Chris Rock’s Selective Outrage aired Saturday night on Netflix, marking the comedian’s first live global comedy special — and his first time truly addressing the slap almost a year later. I guess Netflix cut him a check of which he couldn’t refuse.

Funny? The crowd erupted in laughter. Serious? Let’s just say that the slap still stings (figuratively, that is) and Rock ain’t too fond of the Smiths.

Saving the slap talk for last, Rock didn’t hold back ripping into the famous husband and wife with rapid F-bombs and jokes that struck just as hard as the smack to Rock’s face.

His thoughts on Smith’s decision to hit him? Simply, Rock says it was “some bitch ass shit.”

It was clear that Rock still has a lot of pent-up anger towards Will and Jada. Seriously, by the way he ranted about his side of the situation, you would’ve thought the slap happened yesterday.

He even brought up Jada’s “entanglement” with musician August Alsina, which he believes is the root of Smith’s hurt — what led him to make the foolish decision to slap Rock.

In conclusion, Rock was wrong for making the alopecia joke. Cheating is bad, Jada. Will shouldn’t have slapped Rock. But, the faults of everyone involved are a think-piece for another day.

Nonetheless, now that Rock’s got that off his chest, everyone has 24 hours to wrap up The Slap discourse for good.