Emmys 2022 host Kenan Thompson addresses infamous Oscars’ Will Smith-Chris Rock slapgate: ‘I don’t think offense necessarily gets us anywhere as a society’

Ahead of Emmys 2022, Kenan Thompson addressed the slapgate at the Oscars 2022.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

September 10, 2022 - 5:09 PM IST

Comedian-actor Kenan Thompson, who will host his first Primetime Emmys 2022 show this year, addressed the infamous slapgate incident that happened between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards.

Emmys 2022 host Kenan Thompson addresses infamous Oscars’ Will Smith-Chris Rock slapgate: ‘I don’t think offense necessarily gets us anywhere as a society’

As reported by Complex publication, Kenan Thompson said he didn’t anticipate any on-stage assaults during the upcoming Emmys ceremony, as he intends to keep the “roast-y” jokes to a minimum. “I think a good comic is supposed to be aware,” Thompson said.

“I mean I’m not calling Chris a bad comic, he just wasn’t necessarily aware of that situation, so it’s not fair to lump him into that conversation. But overall those kind of roast-y kind of people, you have to be smart, because you know, there’s a way to jab at people without offending, like for real for real. I don’t think offense necessarily gets us anywhere as a society.”

For the unversed, at 94th Academy Awards night, Chris Rock made a joke about Will's wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head, a result of the hair-loss condition alopecia. The comedian-actor was left stunned at the awards night after Will Smith walked up to the stage and slapped the comedian across the face. “I feel like a hug moment would have stopped all of that, you know what I’m saying?” Thompson said about the slap. “But it was so unfathomable that [Rock] didn’t know that was even coming. He would have never in his wildest dreams have imagined his friend of 30-plus years would attempt some shit like that.”

Shortly after the "Oscar Slap” debacle unfolded, Will Smith got a standing ovation when he won the Best Actor Oscar for King Richard. In his emotional acceptance speech, Smith apologized to his fellow nominees and the Academy. While Smith omitted Rock from his speech, he publicly apologized to the comedian the following day, writing on Instagram. Following the incident, Smith resigned from the Academy and has been banned from attending the ceremony for 10 years.

The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards will air on September 12, 2022.

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