Comedian Chris Rock did not directly address Will Smith’s recent apology video to him when onstage in Atlanta on Friday but he did continue to make jokes about the notorious incident at the Oscars when he was slapped by the actor while presenting the awards show.
“If everybody claims to be a victim, then nobody will hear the real victims,” Rock said. “Even me getting smacked by Suge Smith ... I went to work the next day, I got kids,” he joked, according to CNN.
Rock has repeatedly mined the incident for his onstage show and later remarked in Atlanta: “Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face.”
Rock has not publicly commented directly on the slap, including in the wake of Smith’s recent videoed apology, which directly addressed the comic.
“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 so I will say to you Chris, I apologise to you. My behaviour was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk,” Smith said in the lengthy video, uploaded on his YouTube channel and Instagram page.
Smith slapped Rock onstage after a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and her appearance.
After the slap, Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He was also given a 10-year ban.
