KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Will Smith has now released his first public comments about the slap heard round the world, apologizing on video for his behavior against comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars in March. Rock’s response: It still hurts.
“Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face,” Rock said during a stand-up show over the weekend.
It’s been a treacherous year for comics. In July, comedian Craig Robinson’s stand-up show was evacuated when a gunman entered the North Carolina venue and opened fire. No one was injured and the gunman was apprehended, but Robinson’s remaining two shows scheduled for the following evening were canceled. Earlier this year, Dave Chappelle was tackled on stage by an audience member.
