Chris Rock ticket sales surge after Will Smith’s Oscar slap

This combination of pictures created on Monday shows Will Smith, right, approaches Chris Rock onstage, and Smith slaps Rock onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Sunday.

Chris Rock’s comedy tour sales surged, according to ticket reseller TickPick, after the comedian’s slapping by Will Smith on the Oscars stage drew global attention.

Tour ticket prices now cost a minimum of US$341 on TickPick, up from a minimum of $46 per ticket on March 18, Variety reported.

Rock currently has 38 dates scheduled for the tour, hitting cities such as Las Vegas, Denver, Oakland, Seattle, New York, Chicago and Toronto.

• Smith strikes Rock in viral Oscars moment

The episode unfolded after Rock joked about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith. Pinkett Smith has spoken openly about her struggle with alopecia, a long-term chronic inflammatory condition which affects hair follicles and leads to hair loss. Smith has apologised for the incident.

The Academy said in a statement that it has started "a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our bylaws, standards of conduct and California law."