Chris Rock finally breaks his silence on Will Smith Oscars slap: ‘Hell yeah, it hurt’

In preparation for his upcoming particular, Selective Outrage, the comic reportedly talked in regards to the incident that dominated a lot of the headlines final 12 months throughout a January set in Charleston, South Carolina.

Based on The Wall Road Journal, he stated, “The factor individuals wish to know… did it harm? Hell yeah, it harm.”

The 58-year-old additionally referenced Smith’s position within the 2001 movie Ali and his 1991 film New Jack Metropolis: “He performed Muhammad Ali! I performed Pookie!”

The US Solar reported that Rock additionally quipped, “Even in animated motion pictures, I’m a zebra, he’s a f***ing shark.”

Persevering with to make gentle of the incident, Rock even referenced one among Smith’s traditional hits, Summertime, joking, “I obtained hit so onerous I heard Summertime ringing in my ears.”

Though the TV star has beforehand addressed the controversy, he’s by no means spoken or joked so frankly about it till now.

Rock’s particular is about to be streamed dwell on Netflix on March 4 from Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre, every week earlier than this 12 months’s Academy Awards broadcast March 13.

Final 12 months, Smith’s win for Greatest Actor award, for his main position in King Richard, was overshadowed by his behaviour earlier within the ceremony.

The star surprised the worldwide viewers when he obtained up from his seat in the course of the dwell broadcast to storm the stage and slap Rock throughout the face for making a joke on the expense of his spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith, whereas presenting the award for Greatest Documentary Characteristic.

Following the incident, there have been some requires him to return his Oscar.

Nevertheless, the Academy of Movement Footage Arts and Sciences as a substitute banned the actor from attending the Oscars for the following 10 years.

He has since apologised a number of occasions for his actions.