Chris Rock's New Netflix Special, 'Selective Outrage,' is Getting a Divisive Reaction
One year after being slapped by Will Smith at the 94th Academy Awards, Chris Rock addressed the incident in his new Netflix special.
All eyes were on Chris Rockover the weekend. One year after being infamously slapped by Oscar-winner Will Smith at the 94th Academy Awards last March, Rock was the star of new Netflix standup special Selective Outrage, where he addressed the incident towards the end of his hour-long set.
“You all know what happened to me, getting smacked by Suge Smith. Everybody knows. Everybody fucking knows,” the 58-year-old said. “I got smacked like a year ago… and people are like, ‘Did it hurt?’ It still hurts. I got ‘Summertime’ ringing in my ears.”
The Brooklyn-raised comic went on to say that he won't further speak about Slapgate on any talk shows.
“I’m not a victim, baby. You will never see me on Oprah or Gayle [King] crying. You will never see it… It’s never going to happen. Fuck that shit, I took that shit like [Manny] Pacquiao," he said.
Rock went on to say that the title of his Netflix special was partially inspired by Smith, also referencing the actor's open marriage with wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
“Will Smith practices Selective Outrage,” Rock explained. “Everybody who really knows, knows I had nothing to do with that shit. I didn’t have any ‘entanglements.'”
After claiming that he tried to contact Smith, Rock went on to poke at Pinkett Smith, last addressing the Girls Trip actress during the 2022 Oscars when he joked about her shaved head.
“His wife was fucking her son’s friend. I normally would not talk about this shit… I have no idea why two talented people would do something that fucking lowdown," he said. "We’ve all been cheated on. Everybody in here been cheated on. None of us has ever been interviewed by the person that cheated on us… on television. She hurt him way more than he hurt me.”
Rock then backhandedly shared his "admiration" for this King Richard actor.
“I love Will Smith, my whole life… he makes great movies. I have rooted for Will Smith my whole life. I root for this muthafucka.” Rock said. “And now I watch Emancipation just to see him get whooped.”
When addressing why he didn't fight back on the Oscars stage, Rock said: “Because I got parents. I was raised. And you know what my parents taught me? Don’t fight in front of white people.”
Rock's jokes didn't sit well with some viewers, a majority Black who alleged that the comedian was tokenizing himself. Social media users also acknowledged that the Selective Outrage special being filmed in Pinkett Smith's hometown of Baltimore was a pointed choice.
Read more reactions below.