It was the slap heard around the world.
Five months following the infamous Oscars slap incident, Chris Rock has seemingly not forgiven Will Smith.
During his stand-up show with Dave Chapelle at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, the comedian publicly addressed Smith’s apology video for the first time, reports Deadline.
“F*ck your hostage video,” Rock joked.
“Yes, that shit hurt. He played Ali,” the comedian added, referring to Smith’s role as Muhammad Ali in the 2001 film, Ali.
Taking the stage after Rock, Chapelle added that he didn’t know how he would have reacted if Smith slapped him onstage at the Oscars, but assured that the actor would not have “enjoyed the rest of his night.”
During the comedic duo’s show at Liverpool’s M&S Arena last Thursday, Chappelle even branded Smith as “ugly as the rest of us.”
“Will did the impression of a perfect person for 30 years, and he ripped his mask off and showed us he was as ugly as the rest of us,” Chappelle told the crowd.
“Whatever the consequences are … I hope he doesn’t put his mask back on again and lets his real face breathe. I see myself in both men.”
In Smith’s apology video that was issued in July, the actor showed remorse for slapping Rock during the Academy Awards after making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair.
“I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk and when he is, he will reach out,” Will shared. “So I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”
Smith added, “There is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. There’s no part of me that thinks that’s the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect, or insults.”
