Chris Rock gets standing ovation at first show since getting slapped by Will Smith at Oscars 2022: “I’m still kind of processing what happened”

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

March 31, 2022 - 12:50 PM IST

Chris Rock returned to the stage on Wednesday night after an altercation with Will Smith on Oscars 2022 night on Sunday. In one of the most shocking turns of events on stage, comedian-actor Chris Rock was left stunned at the 2022 Academy Awards after Will Smith came on onstage and slapped the comedian across the face. The incident occurred after Rock, who was introducing the award for Best Documentary, poked fun at Jada Pinkett Smith about her hairdo. For unversed, Pinkett is suffering from auto-immune disease alopecia which results in hair loss.

Chris Rock gets standing ovation at first show since getting slapped by Will Smith at Oscars 2022: “I’m still kind of processing what happened”

Kicking off his comedy tour at the Wilbur in Boston, Rock got a standing ovation on Wednesday night that reportedly lasted two minutes. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the comedian said, “You got me all misty and sh-t.”

Once the crowd settled in the seats, he asked, “How was your weekend?” to which the crowd was left in splits. “I don’t have a bunch of shit about what happened, so if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend, and I’m still kind of processing what happened,” Rock said. “So at some point, I’ll talk about that shit. And it’ll be serious, and it’ll be funny.”

He continued, “I’m going to tell some jokes. It’s nice to just be out.”

During his set, he said, “Except for some other pretty weird things, life is pretty good right now.” At the end of the show, he got another big standing ovation.

According to THR, "Ticket sales for his live comedy shows have soared since Sunday’s ceremony; indeed, one attendee at the Wilbur told The Hollywood Reporter that she spent $2,200 on two tickets in the aftermath of this weekend’s controversy."

Will Smith on Monday issued a public apology to Chris Rock after slapping the comedian on stage at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday night. He said, "Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. 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. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness," he continued.

"I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress," he concluded his statement.