Chris Rock’s mom, Rose Rock, shares her thoughts on how Will Smith beat her son at the 2022 Academy Awards a month after a month from this moment.
Rock, an author and motivational speaker, told WIS that the comedian is fine but is “still processing” the incident that prompted Smith to resign from the academy. The organization has since announced that Smith, who won Best Actor for his performance in King Richard, will be banned from all events, including the Academy Awards, for the next 10 years.
“I told someone that when Will slapped Chris, he slapped all of us, but he really slapped me,” Rose Rock said. “If you hurt my child, you hurt me.”
When asked what she would say to Smith, Rock replied, “I have no idea what I would say other than ‘What on earth were you thinking?’ Because you slapped your face, but so many things could have happened. Chris could have stepped back and fallen. You really could have been taken out in handcuffs. you didn’t think You responded to your wife giving you the side eye and you went up and you made her day because she burst out laughing when it happened.
Referring to the 10-year ban, she said: “What does that mean? You don’t even go every year.” Rock, who pointed out that she didn’t think the academy should have taken away Smith’s Oscar, went on to say she’s “really, really proud” of how her son is reacting in that moment have.
She added that she didn’t believe the apology Smith posted to his Instagram account the day after the ceremony was genuine. “I feel really bad that he never apologized,” Rock said. “His people wrote an article and said, ‘I apologize to Chris Rock,’ but this is personal. You are reaching out.”
Smith’s slap followed Chris Rock, who made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who had a shaved head. The comedian has largely remained a mom since the Oscars.
Earlier this month, Chris’ brother Kenny Rock told the Los Angeles Times that he didn’t believe Smith’s apology was genuine.