Nearly one year after the “Slapgate” incident with Will Smith at the Oscars, Chris Rock is allegedly incorporating some jokey-jokes about the matter into his recent stand-up routines. However, various Twitter users don’t appear to be here for his supposed antics!
Chris Allegedly Joked He Saw Emancipation To ‘Watch [Will] Getting Whipped’
The speculation broke out shortly ahead of the comedian’s Chris Rock: Selective Outrage special being livestreamed on Netflix. Numerous reports suggest that Chris has been gearing up for the special by incorporating some material based on the Academy Awards incident into his other shows.
RELATED: Chris Rock Calls Will Smith’s Apology Video A ‘Hostage’ Video
The New York Post reports that Chris took the stage at one show and mentioned watching Emancipation—a film in which Will Smith plays an enslaved man—for the sole purpose of “watch[ing] him getting whipped.”
“The other day, I watched Emancipation just so I could watch him getting whipped.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, Chris also referenced his and Will’s respective movie roles to acknowledge the physical differences between the two.
“The thing people wanna know…did it hurt? Hell yeah it hurt. He played Muhammad Ali! I played Pookie [In New Jack City]. Even in animated movies I’m a zebra, he’s a f**king shark.”
He also referenced Will’s music career by adding, “I got hit so hard, I heard ‘Summertime’ ringing in my ears.”
This sentiment was further honed in on through additional comments reported on by CNN.
“Will Smith is a big dude. I am not. Will Smith is shirtless in his movies. If you see me in a movie getting open heart surgery, I’m gonna have a sweater on.”
Chris Rock has been polishing material about Will Smith ahead of his live performance on Netflix Saturday https://t.co/hazIXLNGcl pic.twitter.com/07P6o9ro8r
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 2, 2023
Twitter Users React To The Chris Rock Speculation
In response to these reports, people on Twitter have begun expressing their thoughts on the matter, and most are not too pleased with Chris. Users were particularly disappointed about his comments surrounding Emancipation.
Check out some reactions down below.
chris rock made fun of a black woman on national TV, became a victim after getting what he deserved, and now spends his free time deriving pleasure from seeing a black man be whipped as a slave. lol. https://t.co/fqCpvr1SxJ
— maleficent ✰ (@houseofphoton) March 3, 2023
Chris rock coming back a year later with Will Smith jokes pic.twitter.com/4iK7XTQ9Ru
— Tez💜 (@JoeSweatpants) March 3, 2023
https://twitter.com/SpicyAABoy/status/1631746422981754884?s=20
And somehow people think will smith is the problem?!
— Ayman (@GuyWhoConquers) March 3, 2023
People act like Chris Rock hasn’t been engaged in this type of nonsense for the last decade.
Why does everyone act like the words that led to “The Slap” were the first instance of shit like this and not the last straw for Smith? https://t.co/CpIEMPXMEp
— @ImaniBarbarin@disabled.social (@Imani_Barbarin) March 3, 2023
In addition to slamming Chris’ remarks, critics also took the opportunity to drudge up a past questionable moment involving Rock and some white comedians.
Chris Rock let two white comedians use the n-word in front of him and laughed about it he been a loser https://t.co/QCi1zsX0Cl
— gloria alamrew / ግሎርያ 🇪🇹🌻 (@GloriaAlamrew) March 3, 2023
https://twitter.com/NotJosieGrossy/status/1631717282756927501?s=20
https://twitter.com/TeeChereaa/status/1631739725768687617?s=20
However, not everyone was against Chris Rock speaking on the “Slapgate” incident, as
Folks telling Chris Rock to move on from something that happened TO HIM is wild to me. I get that y'all love Will Smith, but Will literally, like in real life, slapped him. He can talk about that shit as long as he wants. It happened TO HIM, not y'all.
— Tired Black Woman Geek (@toomuchtelly) March 3, 2023
What are your thoughts on the speculation and ensuing backlash?
