Wanda Sykes isn’t laughing after the slap that shocked Oscars viewers worldwide.
The comic, who was co-hosting the 94th Academy Awards alongside Amy Schumer and Regina Hall, revealed that even though Will Smith slapping Chris Rock — following a joke made about his wife — overshadowed the night, the hosting trio has yet to hear an apology from the actor or the Academy.
“I know he apologized to Chris. But ... we were the hosts, right?” Sykes, 58, said during her appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” Wednesday. “This is our house. We’re hosts. We’re gonna take care of y’all tonight. Make sure you have a good time. And no one has apologized to us. And we worked really hard to put that show together.”
The incident and its aftermath have left a sour taste in Sykes’ mouth, with the comic saying: “Like the industry itself, I’m like, what the hell is this? It’s wrong. It’s just wrong.”
Sykes agreed with DeGeneres’ earlier remark that the ordeal “absolutely” took away from the other highlights of the night.
Rock, 57, called Jada Pinkett Smith during the ceremony “G.I. Jane 2,” referring to her shorter hairstyle. The “Red Table Talk” host, 50, had previously spoken about suffering from alopecia, which causes hair loss.
Smith, 53, proceeded to the stage wherein he smacked the comic, only to return to his seat and order Rock to “keep my wife’s name out your f—ing mouth.”
“I just felt so awful for my friend, Chris,” said Sykes. “And it was sickening. ... I physically felt ill. And I’m still a little traumatized by it.” DeGeneres, who came to prominence as a stand-up comedian, said she felt the same.
Though Sykes has yet to hear an apology from Smith — who went on to take home the best actor statue that night and receive a standing ovation during his teary-eyed acceptance speech — she said Rock was full of remorse at an after-party.
“The first thing he said was, ‘I’m so sorry,’” Sykes shared. “And I’m like, ‘Why are you apologizing?’ He was like, ‘It was supposed to be your night. ... You and Amy and Regina, y’all were doing such a great job. I’m so sorry. This is now gonna be about this.’ Because ... that’s who Chris is.”
Schumer, 40, on Wednesday also stood by Rock and said the incident, which is now under formal review by the Academy, left her “triggered and traumatized.”
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