In a recent revelation, comedian and actress Leslie Jones shed light on the emotional aftermath faced by Chris Rock after the infamous slap incident involving actor Will Smith during the 2022 Oscars. The incident, which became the talk of the town, had a profound impact on Rock, leading him to seek counseling.
Jones, while promoting her upcoming memoir set to release on September 19, shared her insights into how Rock felt post the incident. "That was humiliating. It really affected him," she stated, emphasizing the emotional toll it took on Rock, especially considering his family witnessed the event. "People need to understand his daughters, his parents, saw that," Jones added.
The "Saturday Night Live" alumna expressed her deep-seated anger and frustration over the incident. She recalled her immediate reaction, saying, "It made me so infuriated. You don't know that I was going to jump in my car and roll up there. I was so mad on so many levels." Jones humorously added that she wondered why Rock didn't run around the stage, trying to evade Smith and calling for Jada Pinkett Smith to intervene.
Jones also highlighted the missed opportunity for Smith to make amends during the awards ceremony. She believed that Smith could have acknowledged his mistake while accepting his Best Actor award, suggesting he could have said, "I shouldn't have done that. Bring Chris out. I cannot accept the Oscar right now because that was wrong."
A year after the incident, Rock released a Netflix comedy special titled "Selective Outrage." Jones believes this was Rock's way of coping and moving on from the embarrassing episode. "Everybody got pissed off about him doing a special. That's what comedians do. Instead of us going crazy, we talk about it on stage. Thank God we've got the stage," Jones remarked.
Jones, who shares a close bond with Rock, described him as being "like a brother" to her. She expressed her gratitude for Rock's unwavering support, mentioning that he even wrote the foreword to her memoir. "He's always there to give me the perfect advice when I need it," Jones concluded.
The incident at the 94th Academy Awards, where Smith slapped Rock following a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, has remained a significant talking point in entertainment circles. While both parties have since moved on, the repercussions of that night continue to echo in various forms, be it through comedy specials, interviews, or memoirs.