Chris Rock Threw Shade, Poked Fun At Jada Pinkett Smith Years Before Oscars 2022
The joke that Chris Rock made about Jada Pinkett Smith at the Oscars 2022 did not sit well with Will Smith. But, it was not the first time the comedian poked fun at the actress.
Cheat Sheet reported that the “Saturday Night Live” alum “insulted” the “Bad Moms” actress in 2016 after boycotting the Oscars at the time. As noted, she cited the “lack of diversity” among the acting nominees as the reason for her absence.
In his opening monologue at the 2016 event, he threw a shade at Pinkett Smith, saying, “Jada said she’s not coming.. I was like, ‘Isn’t she on a TV show?’ Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties. I wasn’t invited.”
Following the joke, though, Jada Pinkett Smith seemed “unfazed” by the jokes Chris Rock had made, according to Us Weekly. She told X17 at the time that “it comes with the territory.”
The actress continued that everyone “gotta keep it moving.” She emphasized it a couple of times before noting that “there is a lot of stuff we gotta handle” as there is “a lot of stuff in our world right now.”
The same publication, later on, recalled that Rock took a shot, as well, at Will Smith in the same event. He said that “it is not fair that [the actor] was this good and didn’t get nominated.” He, however, argued that “it is also not fair that Will was paid $20 million for ‘Wild Wild West’.”
Reports have unearthed the 2016 dig at Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith following the altercation the former had with Chris Rock at the Oscars 2022. This comes after the comedian poked fun at the actress, insinuating she would star in a “G.I. Jane” sequel due to her bald head.
A separate report from Us Weekly pointed out that Pinkett Smith has alopecia, and has since been vocal about the condition on social media.
Upon making the joke on stage, Smith walked up to him and gave him a slap. He, also, yelled, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth” a couple of times after returning to his seat.
Roughly 40 minutes after the now-infamous incident, Will Smith took the stage after winning the Best Actor award. He delivered an emotional speech, wherein he, also, apologized before the audience.
He apologized to his fellow nominees, as well as to the Academy. However, he did not mention Chris Rock, although he seemingly acknowledged what had happened earlier that night. He even ended his speech with a quip, saying he hopes the Academy would invite him again in the future.