The suspense that led to the Oscar gossip has actually lasted for over a decade.
As people on social media have been combing through Chris Rock’s history with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, an old clip of comedian Pinkett Smith has resurfaced. It’s not just the jokes of the 2016 and 2022 Oscars — this beef dates back to 1997.
The digs are from The Chris Rock Show, which aired on HBO for five seasons in the late ’90s. In October 1997 — just before Will and Jada tied the knot, and quite coincidentally right after the premiere of GI Jane — Rock was busy with the second season of his late-night talk show when he took aim at the bride-to-be.
“Million Women March took place in Philadelphia last week. I spoke to Ice Cube, he called it ‘Bitches by the Bell,'” Rock says in the clip, earning a wave of boos from his live audience. “I didn’t say it! Ice Cube said so. And Too Short said so too!”
After a joke about women not wanting to wear the same clothes, Rock begins his roast from Jada: “You know, at the Million Women March, there were moving speeches from the likes of Maxine Waters, Winnie Mandela, and here are some inspirational words from the beautiful Jada Pinkett.”
Rock continues with a cut to a clip of a young Jada Pinkett marching. “I’m here today,” she proclaims, “because this is an act of power, women. Alright?” This reduces Pinkett’s activism to a joke in which she yells the lyrics to “The Roof Is on Fire” instead of her speech.
“Burn motherfuckers, burn!” Fake Jada yells at the crowd. (Not even close to her real speech.)
“This reduces Pinkett’s activism to a joke where she yells the lyrics to ‘The Roof Is on Fire’ instead of her speech.”
In late October 1997, the Million Women March took place, with around half a million people marching down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. The women of the march focused on advocating for African American women in America, led by Phile Chionesu and supported by big names like Maxine Waters, Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife, and Jada Pinkett Smith (then Jada Pinkett).
So the Oscar take wasn’t an isolated moment in the Chris Rock/Smith family feud. However, we already knew this: Rock once again singled out Jada for her activism during the 2016 Oscars. When the actress decided to boycott the event because of #OscarsSoWhite, Rock took it as a snoop.
“Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties,” he said, hosting the night’s events. “I wasn’t invited.”
It all lends new meaning to the “Keep my wife’s name out of your friggin’ mouth” Will shouted twice after Sunday’s slap and why Jada couldn’t help but laugh after her husband slapped the comic.
While the clip is circulate on Twitterthe full monologue will be streamed on HBO Max via The Chris Rock Show for anyone keeping an eye on the receipts.