Chris Rock Joked About Getting Punched By Muhammad Ali Following Will Smith Altercation: Report
Chris Rock laughed off the slap Will Smith gave him on stage. He even reportedly joked backstage that he “got punched in the face by Muhammad Ali.”
Page Six said that the report first emerged in the Los Angeles Times. The comedian was, also, said to have added that he “did not get a scratch.”
As reported, Rock was “overheard” making the Ali joke following the shocking turn out of events on Sunday evening. The publication, then, said that he was referring to Smith’s role as Ali in a 2001 biopic of the same name.
Chris Rock first joked about getting slapped by Will Smith immediately after the latter got up to the stage. After the shocking incident, he told the audience that the “King Richard” actor “smacked the s*** out of [him].”
After defending the quip he made about Jada Pinkett Smith, her husband yelled from his seat, saying, “keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.” Reports noted that the remark was censored amid the broadcast in the United States.
The “Saturday Night Live” alum tried to compose himself afterward. He consequently stated that it was the “greatest night in the history of television.”
Hours after the shocking series of events at the Oscars, a separate report from Page Six exclusively revealed that Chris Rock and Will Smith made amends. As stated, Sean “Diddy” Combs made the confirmation at the Vanity Fair Oscars bash, which took place after the awarding ceremony.
The rapper told the publication that it is “not a problem” and already “over,” adding that he could confirm it. He, also, emphasized that the two celebrities are “brothers” and “it is all love.”
Combs did not, however, elaborate on further details as to how Smith and Rock had reconciled.
Moments after the altercation, Will Smith won the Best Actor award for his role in “King Richard.” It is his first Oscar win, causing reports to state that it was “bittersweet” due to the now-infamous slap incident.
In his lengthy speech, he seemingly acknowledged what had happened earlier that night. He, also, apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees before stating, “this is a beautiful moment.”
Smith did not, however, make an apology to Chris Rock for slapping him on stage and on live television. He, nevertheless, ended his speech with a joke, saying he hopes the Academy to invite him back in the future.