During the gala of the 2022 Oscars, Will Smith attacked Chris Rock live. The slap went around the world, and fueled a controversy that more than a year later continues to rage. The reason for the attack was that Rock made a joke about Smith’s partner’s alopecia, Jada Pinkett Smith so the Oscar-nominated actor for The Williams method went up on stage to slap him… minutes before going up again to receive the statuette. Smith was banned from the Academy.
In the following months, all kinds of industry figures have commented on it, while Smith repeatedly apologized for his behavior and Rock even made fun of the issue during his comedy shows. The comedian’s reaction was, therefore, to laugh at the matter, and perhaps mask how he felt during the gala. One of his closest friends, Leslie Joneshas clarified in People that this was in effect a facade. The actress of Ghostbusters He claims that Rock felt humiliated, and had to seek psychological help.
“That shit was humiliating for him. She affected him a lot. People have to understand that his daughters, his parents, saw this. He had to go to therapy with her daughters,” says the comedian, who has just published a memoir: Leslie F*cking Jones. Jones and Rock met in the 90s and have worked together on Saturday night Live. The comedian greatly appreciates their friendship: “It’s like my brother. He is always there to give me the perfect advice when I need it.”
Rock has two adult daughters, Lola and Zahrawith his ex-wife Malaak Compton-Rock. During the 2022 ceremony Jones was not in attendance, so like most people he watched the slap from home, and was very outraged. “I was going to jump in my car and drive there. Was fucking angryon many levels.”
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