Chris Rock looked downcast as he wandered around New York City on Tuesday just two weeks after being slapped in the face by Oscar winner Will Smith.
The 57-year-old comedian was on the receiving end of some rather violent feedback when he made an ill-judged joke about the hair of 53-year-old Will’s alopecia suffering wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, 50, at the 94th annual Academy Awards last month.
Chris looked lonely and down beat as he took to the streets of the Big Apple just over two weeks after Will made headlines around the world and left fans disgusted when he slapped the star on stage.
The comedian – whose current stand-up world tour, titled Ego Death, has seen an increase in sales in the aftermath of the Oscars scandal – was dressed in dark khaki coursers and a dark coloured jacket.
He walked with his hands in his pockets and looked down at the pavement from behind his reflective sunglasses as he navigated between busy New Yorkers.
He added a burst of colour with rainbow coloured trainers as he walked through the streets – and had a pair of large headphones slung around his neck.
Chris has remained relatively tight-lipped since Will sparked furore with his vicious reaction to the comedian’s joke – which included him repeatedly screaming “Keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth!” once he returned to his chair – but the funnyman’s brother has not.
Younger sibling Kenny, 42, has demanded that Will be stripped of his Best Actor Oscar – which was handed to the King Richard star minutes after his violent outburst and to the sound of rapturous applause and a standing ovation from his A-List peers.
Kenny told the LA Times: “It eats at me watching it over and over again because you've seen a loved one being attacked and there's nothing you can do about it.
“Every time I'm watching the videos, it's like a rendition that just keeps going over and over in my head.”
He continued: “My brother was no threat to him and you just had no respect for him at that moment.
“You just belittled him in front of millions of people that watch the show.”
Will apologised to Chris via social media the day following the incident – and last week resigned from his position as a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The Fresh Prince star said in a statement: "I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken.
"So, I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate.”
It is possible the actor could yet lose his Oscar as the Academy are deliberating how best to punish his actions.
While the ramifications of Will’s slap may have already impacted his work life – as reports have claimed projects planned at both Sony and Netflix have been cancelled in the aftermath of the Oscars.
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