Hours after Will Smith took to social media to apologize for slapping Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars, the stand-up took to the stage to wax poetic about the moment, comparing Smith featuring former Death Row Records executive and currently incarcerated hothead Suge. knight
“Everybody’s trying to be a victim,” Rock, 57, said during a concert at the Fox Theater in Atlanta on Friday night. “If everybody says they’re a victim, nobody’s going to listen to the real victims. I even got spanked by Suge Smith… I went to work the next day, I had kids.”
“Anyone who says that words do have never been punched in the face,” Rock added, according to People.
The comedian is currently touring his new material as part of his Ego Death World Tour. He also played the theme during recent shows in New Jersey and New York, co-headlined by Kevin Hart.
Smith’s latest apology, as he also apologized to Rock via social media days after the incident, found the actor revealing that Rock has refused to speak to him at the time considers “unacceptable”.
“I reached out to Chris and the message he got back is that he’s not ready to talk, but when he is, he’ll be in touch,” Smith said in the video posted on YouTube. “I’ll tell you, Chris, I apologize. My behavior was unacceptable, and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”
Smith offered Rock a video apology Friday afternoon. zz/RE/Westcom/STAR MAX/IPx
Smith, 53, also apologized to Rock’s mother and brother, Tony Rock.
“That was one of the things at the time that I didn’t realize,” he continued. “I wasn’t thinking about how many people were hurt at the time. I want to apologize to Chris’ mother, Chris’ family, especially his brother Tony Rock.”
Rock joked about the incident during his last show in Atlanta. zz/RE/Westcom/STAR MAX/IPx
Tony, who previously worked with Smith on the sitcom All Of Us, took Smith out for hitting on his brother, leaving the Oscar winner with the impression that their relationship is now “probably beyond repair.”
“Disappointing people is my central trauma. I hate it when I disappoint people, so it hurts me psychologically and emotionally to know that I didn’t live up to the image and impression that people had of me,” he further explained . “The work I’m trying to do is I’m deeply remorseful, and I’m trying to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself.”