Tag: Chris Rock

  • Year after the slap, Chris Rock punches back in new special

    By Associated Press

    A year after Will Smith smacked him on the Academy Awards stage, Chris Rock finally gave his rebuttal in a forceful stand-up special, streamed live on Netflix, in which the comedian bragged that he “took that hit like Pacquiao.”

    The 58-year-old comedian on Saturday night performed his first stand-up special since last year’s Oscars in a much-awaited sequel that had all the hype — and more — of a Manny Pacquaio prizefight. “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage,” streamed live from the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, marked Netflix’s first foray into live streaming. But it was also a long-awaited comedy counterpunch to Academy Awards infamy.

    Rock, performing in all white and with a Prince medallion around his neck, immediately touched on last year’s Oscars while riffing on “wokeness,” hypersensitivity and what he called “selective outrage.”

    “You never know who might get triggered,” said Rock. “Anybody who says words hurt hasn’t been punched in the face.”

    But Rock then launched into a series of wide-ranging topics examining contemporary issues, including virtue signaling, high-priced yoga pants, the Duchess of Sussex, the Kardashians, abortion rights, the Capitol riot and what he called America’s biggest addition: Attention.

    “We used to want love, now we just want likes,” said Rock.

    Rock, who also riffed on how he’d respond if his father transitioned to a woman (he would support him, Rock said), made clear “Selective Outrage” was not going to be just a Will Smith show. Only occasionally did Rock’s material dovetail with the 2022 Oscars, like it did when Rock joked about the oddity of Snoop Dogg becoming such a venerated pitch man for advertisers.

    “I’m not dissing Snoop,” said Rock. “The last thing I need is another mad rapper.”

    But an hour into his set, Rock closed the special with a torrent of material about the notorious Academy Awards moment.

    ALSO READ | Academy sets up ‘crisis team’ following Will Smith-Chris Rock slap row

    “You all know what happened to me, getting smacked by Suge Smith. Everybody knows,” Rock said. “It still hurts. I got ‘Summertime’ ringing in my ears.”

    While Smith has apologized and repeatedly spoken about the incident since last March, Rock has avoided all the usual platforms where celebrities often go to air their feelings. He never sat down with Oprah Winfrey, and turned away the many media outlets that would have loved to land an exclusive in-depth interview.

    “I’m a not a victim, baby,” said Rock. “You will never see me on Oprah or Gayle crying. You will never see it. Never going to happen.”

    But Rock did use his encounter with Smith to shape and enliven his second stand-up special for Netflix. Some of his best material was on their physical differences.

    “We are not the same size. This guy does movies with his shirt off,” said Rock. “You will never see me do a movie with my shirt off. If I’m in a movie getting open-heart surgery, I got on a sweater.”

    “He played Muhammed Ali,” added Rock. “I played Pookie in ‘New Jack City.’”

    Ultimately, Rock suggested he was just caught in the crossfire in Smith’s relationship with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. It was a joke that Rock told about Pinkett Smith that prompted Smith to stride on stage and strike Rock. The comedian on Saturday referenced Pinkett Smith’s earlier confessions of having an “entanglement” with another man while married.

    “I did not have any entanglements,” said Rock. “She hurt him way more than he hurt me.”

    “I love Will Smith,” added Rock. “Now I watch ‘Emancipation’ just to see him get whooped.”

    Before dropping his microphone and holding his arms up triumphantly, Rock left the crowd with one last zinger. Rock said the reason why he didn’t physically retaliate at the Oscars was because “I got parents.”

    “And you know what my parents taught me?” he said. “Don’t fight in front of white people.”

    Netflix added pre- and post-show bookends of star-studded live programming with, as host comedian Ronny Chieng said, “every comedy legend who owes Netflix a favor.” Bono lent a opening introduction. Dana Carvey and David Spade hosted the after-show. Paul McCartney, Tracy Morgan, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld and one of last year’s Oscar hosts, Wanda Sykes, all added pre-taped messages. Arsenio Hall guaranteed Rock’s set would cause Smith to smack his television set.

    For much of the past year, Rock has been touring new material in a long string of performances as part of his Ego Death tour. The shows, which had been announced before the 2022 Oscars, have featured performances with Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart.

    On the road, Rock has often worked in jokes and reflections on the slap. Rock first broke his public silence about the slap three nights after the Oscar ceremony, last year in Boston. “How was your weekend?” he asked the crowd. He added that he was “still kind of processing what happened.”

    After plenty of processing, Rock retook the cultural spotlight just a week before the March 12 Oscars, where the slap is sure to revisited by this year’s host, Jimmy Kimmel. In the aftermath of last year’s events, Smith resigned his membership to the film academy. The academy board of governors banned Smith from the Oscars and all other academy events for a decade.

    At the annual luncheon for nominees held last month, motion picture academy president Janet Yang voiced regret about how the incident was handled, calling the academy’s response “inadequate.” Bill Kramer, the academy’s chief executive, has said the academy has since instituted a crisis communications team to prepare for and more rapidly respond to the unexpected.

    “Selective Outrage” is Rock’s second special for Netflix, following 2018’s “Tamborine.” They’re part of a two-special $40 million deal Rock signed with the streamer in 2016.

    As new as the live “Selective Outrage” was for Netflix, it was hard not to notice a few familiar things about it.

    “You’ve got to give it to the tech companies for inventing something that existed for decades,” said Chieng. “We’re doing a comedy show on Saturday night … live. Genius.”

    A year after Will Smith smacked him on the Academy Awards stage, Chris Rock finally gave his rebuttal in a forceful stand-up special, streamed live on Netflix, in which the comedian bragged that he “took that hit like Pacquiao.”

    The 58-year-old comedian on Saturday night performed his first stand-up special since last year’s Oscars in a much-awaited sequel that had all the hype — and more — of a Manny Pacquaio prizefight. “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage,” streamed live from the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, marked Netflix’s first foray into live streaming. But it was also a long-awaited comedy counterpunch to Academy Awards infamy.

    Rock, performing in all white and with a Prince medallion around his neck, immediately touched on last year’s Oscars while riffing on “wokeness,” hypersensitivity and what he called “selective outrage.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “You never know who might get triggered,” said Rock. “Anybody who says words hurt hasn’t been punched in the face.”

    But Rock then launched into a series of wide-ranging topics examining contemporary issues, including virtue signaling, high-priced yoga pants, the Duchess of Sussex, the Kardashians, abortion rights, the Capitol riot and what he called America’s biggest addition: Attention.

    “We used to want love, now we just want likes,” said Rock.

    Rock, who also riffed on how he’d respond if his father transitioned to a woman (he would support him, Rock said), made clear “Selective Outrage” was not going to be just a Will Smith show. Only occasionally did Rock’s material dovetail with the 2022 Oscars, like it did when Rock joked about the oddity of Snoop Dogg becoming such a venerated pitch man for advertisers.

    “I’m not dissing Snoop,” said Rock. “The last thing I need is another mad rapper.”

    But an hour into his set, Rock closed the special with a torrent of material about the notorious Academy Awards moment.

    ALSO READ | Academy sets up ‘crisis team’ following Will Smith-Chris Rock slap row

    “You all know what happened to me, getting smacked by Suge Smith. Everybody knows,” Rock said. “It still hurts. I got ‘Summertime’ ringing in my ears.”

    While Smith has apologized and repeatedly spoken about the incident since last March, Rock has avoided all the usual platforms where celebrities often go to air their feelings. He never sat down with Oprah Winfrey, and turned away the many media outlets that would have loved to land an exclusive in-depth interview.

    “I’m a not a victim, baby,” said Rock. “You will never see me on Oprah or Gayle crying. You will never see it. Never going to happen.”

    But Rock did use his encounter with Smith to shape and enliven his second stand-up special for Netflix. Some of his best material was on their physical differences.

    “We are not the same size. This guy does movies with his shirt off,” said Rock. “You will never see me do a movie with my shirt off. If I’m in a movie getting open-heart surgery, I got on a sweater.”

    “He played Muhammed Ali,” added Rock. “I played Pookie in ‘New Jack City.’”

    Ultimately, Rock suggested he was just caught in the crossfire in Smith’s relationship with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. It was a joke that Rock told about Pinkett Smith that prompted Smith to stride on stage and strike Rock. The comedian on Saturday referenced Pinkett Smith’s earlier confessions of having an “entanglement” with another man while married.

    “I did not have any entanglements,” said Rock. “She hurt him way more than he hurt me.”

    “I love Will Smith,” added Rock. “Now I watch ‘Emancipation’ just to see him get whooped.”

    Before dropping his microphone and holding his arms up triumphantly, Rock left the crowd with one last zinger. Rock said the reason why he didn’t physically retaliate at the Oscars was because “I got parents.”

    “And you know what my parents taught me?” he said. “Don’t fight in front of white people.”

    Netflix added pre- and post-show bookends of star-studded live programming with, as host comedian Ronny Chieng said, “every comedy legend who owes Netflix a favor.” Bono lent a opening introduction. Dana Carvey and David Spade hosted the after-show. Paul McCartney, Tracy Morgan, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld and one of last year’s Oscar hosts, Wanda Sykes, all added pre-taped messages. Arsenio Hall guaranteed Rock’s set would cause Smith to smack his television set.

    For much of the past year, Rock has been touring new material in a long string of performances as part of his Ego Death tour. The shows, which had been announced before the 2022 Oscars, have featured performances with Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart.

    On the road, Rock has often worked in jokes and reflections on the slap. Rock first broke his public silence about the slap three nights after the Oscar ceremony, last year in Boston. “How was your weekend?” he asked the crowd. He added that he was “still kind of processing what happened.”

    After plenty of processing, Rock retook the cultural spotlight just a week before the March 12 Oscars, where the slap is sure to revisited by this year’s host, Jimmy Kimmel. In the aftermath of last year’s events, Smith resigned his membership to the film academy. The academy board of governors banned Smith from the Oscars and all other academy events for a decade.

    At the annual luncheon for nominees held last month, motion picture academy president Janet Yang voiced regret about how the incident was handled, calling the academy’s response “inadequate.” Bill Kramer, the academy’s chief executive, has said the academy has since instituted a crisis communications team to prepare for and more rapidly respond to the unexpected.

    “Selective Outrage” is Rock’s second special for Netflix, following 2018’s “Tamborine.” They’re part of a two-special $40 million deal Rock signed with the streamer in 2016.

    As new as the live “Selective Outrage” was for Netflix, it was hard not to notice a few familiar things about it.

    “You’ve got to give it to the tech companies for inventing something that existed for decades,” said Chieng. “We’re doing a comedy show on Saturday night … live. Genius.”

  • ‘It still hurts’: Chris Rock addresses Will Smith’s Oscar slap for first time in Netflix special

    By Associated Press

    A year after Will Smith smacked him on the Academy Awards stage, Chris Rock finally gave his rebuttal in a forceful stand-up special, streamed live on Netflix, in which the comedian bragged that he “took that hit like Pacquiao.”

    The 58-year-old comedian on Saturday night performed his first stand-up special since last year’s Oscars in a much-awaited sequel that had all the hype — and more — of a Manny Pacquaio prizefight. “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage,” streamed live from the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, marked Netflix’s first foray into live streaming. But it was also a long-awaited comedy counterpunch to Academy Awards infamy.

    Rock, performing in all white and with a Prince medallion around his neck, immediately touched on last year’s Oscars while riffing on “wokeness,” hypersensitivity and what he called “selective outrage.”

    “You never know who might get triggered,” said Rock. “Anybody who says words hurt hasn’t been punched in the face.”

    But Rock then launched into a series of wide-ranging topics examining contemporary issues, including virtue signaling, high-priced yoga pants, the Duchess of Sussex, the Kardashians, abortion rights, the Capitol riot and what he called America’s biggest addition: Attention.

    “We used to want love, now we just want likes,” said Rock.

    Rock, who also riffed on how he’d respond if his father transitioned to a woman (he would support him, Rock said), made clear “Selective Outrage” was not going to be just a Will Smith show. Only occasionally did Rock’s material dovetail with the 2022 Oscars, like it did when Rock joked about the oddity of Snoop Dogg becoming such a venerated pitch man for advertisers.

    “I’m not dissing Snoop,” said Rock. “The last thing I need is another mad rapper.”

    But an hour into his set, Rock closed the special with a torrent of material about the notorious Academy Awards moment.

    ALSO READ | Academy sets up ‘crisis team’ following Will Smith-Chris Rock slap row

    “You all know what happened to me, getting smacked by Suge Smith. Everybody knows,” Rock said. “It still hurts. I got ‘Summertime’ ringing in my ears.”

    While Smith has apologized and repeatedly spoken about the incident since last March, Rock has avoided all the usual platforms where celebrities often go to air their feelings. He never sat down with Oprah Winfrey, and turned away the many media outlets that would have loved to land an exclusive in-depth interview.

    “I’m a not a victim, baby,” said Rock. “You will never see me on Oprah or Gayle crying. You will never see it. Never going to happen.”

    But Rock did use his encounter with Smith to shape and enliven his second stand-up special for Netflix. Some of his best material was on their physical differences.

    “We are not the same size. This guy does movies with his shirt off,” said Rock. “You will never see me do a movie with my shirt off. If I’m in a movie getting open-heart surgery, I got on a sweater.”

    “He played Muhammed Ali,” added Rock. “I played Pookie in ‘New Jack City.’”

    Ultimately, Rock suggested he was just caught in the crossfire in Smith’s relationship with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. It was a joke that Rock told about Pinkett Smith that prompted Smith to stride on stage and strike Rock. The comedian on Saturday referenced Pinkett Smith’s earlier confessions of having an “entanglement” with another man while married.

    “I did not have any entanglements,” said Rock. “She hurt him way more than he hurt me.”

    “I love Will Smith,” added Rock. “Now I watch ‘Emancipation’ just to see him get whooped.”

    Before dropping his microphone and holding his arms up triumphantly, Rock left the crowd with one last zinger. Rock said the reason why he didn’t physically retaliate at the Oscars was because “I got parents.”

    “And you know what my parents taught me?” he said. “Don’t fight in front of white people.”

    Netflix added pre- and post-show bookends of star-studded live programming with, as host comedian Ronny Chieng said, “every comedy legend who owes Netflix a favor.” Bono lent a opening introduction. Dana Carvey and David Spade hosted the after-show. Paul McCartney, Tracy Morgan, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld and one of last year’s Oscar hosts, Wanda Sykes, all added pre-taped messages. Arsenio Hall guaranteed Rock’s set would cause Smith to smack his television set.

    For much of the past year, Rock has been touring new material in a long string of performances as part of his Ego Death tour. The shows, which had been announced before the 2022 Oscars, have featured performances with Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart.

    On the road, Rock has often worked in jokes and reflections on the slap. Rock first broke his public silence about the slap three nights after the Oscar ceremony, last year in Boston. “How was your weekend?” he asked the crowd. He added that he was “still kind of processing what happened.”

    After plenty of processing, Rock retook the cultural spotlight just a week before the March 12 Oscars, where the slap is sure to revisited by this year’s host, Jimmy Kimmel. In the aftermath of last year’s events, Smith resigned his membership to the film academy. The academy board of governors banned Smith from the Oscars and all other academy events for a decade.

    At the annual luncheon for nominees held last month, motion picture academy president Janet Yang voiced regret about how the incident was handled, calling the academy’s response “inadequate.” Bill Kramer, the academy’s chief executive, has said the academy has since instituted a crisis communications team to prepare for and more rapidly respond to the unexpected.

    “Selective Outrage” is Rock’s second special for Netflix, following 2018’s “Tamborine.” They’re part of a two-special $40 million deal Rock signed with the streamer in 2016.

    As new as the live “Selective Outrage” was for Netflix, it was hard not to notice a few familiar things about it.

    “You’ve got to give it to the tech companies for inventing something that existed for decades,” said Chieng. “We’re doing a comedy show on Saturday night … live. Genius.”

    A year after Will Smith smacked him on the Academy Awards stage, Chris Rock finally gave his rebuttal in a forceful stand-up special, streamed live on Netflix, in which the comedian bragged that he “took that hit like Pacquiao.”

    The 58-year-old comedian on Saturday night performed his first stand-up special since last year’s Oscars in a much-awaited sequel that had all the hype — and more — of a Manny Pacquaio prizefight. “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage,” streamed live from the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, marked Netflix’s first foray into live streaming. But it was also a long-awaited comedy counterpunch to Academy Awards infamy.

    Rock, performing in all white and with a Prince medallion around his neck, immediately touched on last year’s Oscars while riffing on “wokeness,” hypersensitivity and what he called “selective outrage.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “You never know who might get triggered,” said Rock. “Anybody who says words hurt hasn’t been punched in the face.”

    But Rock then launched into a series of wide-ranging topics examining contemporary issues, including virtue signaling, high-priced yoga pants, the Duchess of Sussex, the Kardashians, abortion rights, the Capitol riot and what he called America’s biggest addition: Attention.

    “We used to want love, now we just want likes,” said Rock.

    Rock, who also riffed on how he’d respond if his father transitioned to a woman (he would support him, Rock said), made clear “Selective Outrage” was not going to be just a Will Smith show. Only occasionally did Rock’s material dovetail with the 2022 Oscars, like it did when Rock joked about the oddity of Snoop Dogg becoming such a venerated pitch man for advertisers.

    “I’m not dissing Snoop,” said Rock. “The last thing I need is another mad rapper.”

    But an hour into his set, Rock closed the special with a torrent of material about the notorious Academy Awards moment.

    ALSO READ | Academy sets up ‘crisis team’ following Will Smith-Chris Rock slap row

    “You all know what happened to me, getting smacked by Suge Smith. Everybody knows,” Rock said. “It still hurts. I got ‘Summertime’ ringing in my ears.”

    While Smith has apologized and repeatedly spoken about the incident since last March, Rock has avoided all the usual platforms where celebrities often go to air their feelings. He never sat down with Oprah Winfrey, and turned away the many media outlets that would have loved to land an exclusive in-depth interview.

    “I’m a not a victim, baby,” said Rock. “You will never see me on Oprah or Gayle crying. You will never see it. Never going to happen.”

    But Rock did use his encounter with Smith to shape and enliven his second stand-up special for Netflix. Some of his best material was on their physical differences.

    “We are not the same size. This guy does movies with his shirt off,” said Rock. “You will never see me do a movie with my shirt off. If I’m in a movie getting open-heart surgery, I got on a sweater.”

    “He played Muhammed Ali,” added Rock. “I played Pookie in ‘New Jack City.’”

    Ultimately, Rock suggested he was just caught in the crossfire in Smith’s relationship with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. It was a joke that Rock told about Pinkett Smith that prompted Smith to stride on stage and strike Rock. The comedian on Saturday referenced Pinkett Smith’s earlier confessions of having an “entanglement” with another man while married.

    “I did not have any entanglements,” said Rock. “She hurt him way more than he hurt me.”

    “I love Will Smith,” added Rock. “Now I watch ‘Emancipation’ just to see him get whooped.”

    Before dropping his microphone and holding his arms up triumphantly, Rock left the crowd with one last zinger. Rock said the reason why he didn’t physically retaliate at the Oscars was because “I got parents.”

    “And you know what my parents taught me?” he said. “Don’t fight in front of white people.”

    Netflix added pre- and post-show bookends of star-studded live programming with, as host comedian Ronny Chieng said, “every comedy legend who owes Netflix a favor.” Bono lent a opening introduction. Dana Carvey and David Spade hosted the after-show. Paul McCartney, Tracy Morgan, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld and one of last year’s Oscar hosts, Wanda Sykes, all added pre-taped messages. Arsenio Hall guaranteed Rock’s set would cause Smith to smack his television set.

    For much of the past year, Rock has been touring new material in a long string of performances as part of his Ego Death tour. The shows, which had been announced before the 2022 Oscars, have featured performances with Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart.

    On the road, Rock has often worked in jokes and reflections on the slap. Rock first broke his public silence about the slap three nights after the Oscar ceremony, last year in Boston. “How was your weekend?” he asked the crowd. He added that he was “still kind of processing what happened.”

    After plenty of processing, Rock retook the cultural spotlight just a week before the March 12 Oscars, where the slap is sure to revisited by this year’s host, Jimmy Kimmel. In the aftermath of last year’s events, Smith resigned his membership to the film academy. The academy board of governors banned Smith from the Oscars and all other academy events for a decade.

    At the annual luncheon for nominees held last month, motion picture academy president Janet Yang voiced regret about how the incident was handled, calling the academy’s response “inadequate.” Bill Kramer, the academy’s chief executive, has said the academy has since instituted a crisis communications team to prepare for and more rapidly respond to the unexpected.

    “Selective Outrage” is Rock’s second special for Netflix, following 2018’s “Tamborine.” They’re part of a two-special $40 million deal Rock signed with the streamer in 2016.

    As new as the live “Selective Outrage” was for Netflix, it was hard not to notice a few familiar things about it.

    “You’ve got to give it to the tech companies for inventing something that existed for decades,” said Chieng. “We’re doing a comedy show on Saturday night … live. Genius.”

  • ‘It still hurts’: Chris Rock addresses Will Smith’s Oscar slap for first time in Netflix special

    By Associated Press

    A year after Will Smith smacked him on the Academy Awards stage, Chris Rock finally gave his rebuttal in a forceful stand-up special, streamed live on Netflix, in which the comedian bragged that he “took that hit like Pacquiao.”

    The 58-year-old comedian on Saturday night performed his first stand-up special since last year’s Oscars in a much-awaited sequel that had all the hype — and more — of a Manny Pacquaio prizefight. “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage,” streamed live from the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, marked Netflix’s first foray into live streaming. But it was also a long-awaited comedy counterpunch to Academy Awards infamy.

    Rock, performing in all white and with a Prince medallion around his neck, immediately touched on last year’s Oscars while riffing on “wokeness,” hypersensitivity and what he called “selective outrage.”

    “You never know who might get triggered,” said Rock. “Anybody who says words hurt hasn’t been punched in the face.”

    But Rock then launched into a series of wide-ranging topics examining contemporary issues, including virtue signaling, high-priced yoga pants, the Duchess of Sussex, the Kardashians, abortion rights, the Capitol riot and what he called America’s biggest addition: Attention.

    “We used to want love, now we just want likes,” said Rock.

    Rock, who also riffed on how he’d respond if his father transitioned to a woman (he would support him, Rock said), made clear “Selective Outrage” was not going to be just a Will Smith show. Only occasionally did Rock’s material dovetail with the 2022 Oscars, like it did when Rock joked about the oddity of Snoop Dogg becoming such a venerated pitch man for advertisers.

    “I’m not dissing Snoop,” said Rock. “The last thing I need is another mad rapper.”

    But an hour into his set, Rock closed the special with a torrent of material about the notorious Academy Awards moment.

    ALSO READ | Academy sets up ‘crisis team’ following Will Smith-Chris Rock slap row

    “You all know what happened to me, getting smacked by Suge Smith. Everybody knows,” Rock said. “It still hurts. I got ‘Summertime’ ringing in my ears.”

    While Smith has apologized and repeatedly spoken about the incident since last March, Rock has avoided all the usual platforms where celebrities often go to air their feelings. He never sat down with Oprah Winfrey, and turned away the many media outlets that would have loved to land an exclusive in-depth interview.

    “I’m a not a victim, baby,” said Rock. “You will never see me on Oprah or Gayle crying. You will never see it. Never going to happen.”

    But Rock did use his encounter with Smith to shape and enliven his second stand-up special for Netflix. Some of his best material was on their physical differences.

    “We are not the same size. This guy does movies with his shirt off,” said Rock. “You will never see me do a movie with my shirt off. If I’m in a movie getting open-heart surgery, I got on a sweater.”

    “He played Muhammed Ali,” added Rock. “I played Pookie in ‘New Jack City.’”

    Ultimately, Rock suggested he was just caught in the crossfire in Smith’s relationship with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. It was a joke that Rock told about Pinkett Smith that prompted Smith to stride on stage and strike Rock. The comedian on Saturday referenced Pinkett Smith’s earlier confessions of having an “entanglement” with another man while married.

    “I did not have any entanglements,” said Rock. “She hurt him way more than he hurt me.”

    “I love Will Smith,” added Rock. “Now I watch ‘Emancipation’ just to see him get whooped.”

    Before dropping his microphone and holding his arms up triumphantly, Rock left the crowd with one last zinger. Rock said the reason why he didn’t physically retaliate at the Oscars was because “I got parents.”

    “And you know what my parents taught me?” he said. “Don’t fight in front of white people.”

    Netflix added pre- and post-show bookends of star-studded live programming with, as host comedian Ronny Chieng said, “every comedy legend who owes Netflix a favor.” Bono lent a opening introduction. Dana Carvey and David Spade hosted the after-show. Paul McCartney, Tracy Morgan, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld and one of last year’s Oscar hosts, Wanda Sykes, all added pre-taped messages. Arsenio Hall guaranteed Rock’s set would cause Smith to smack his television set.

    For much of the past year, Rock has been touring new material in a long string of performances as part of his Ego Death tour. The shows, which had been announced before the 2022 Oscars, have featured performances with Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart.

    On the road, Rock has often worked in jokes and reflections on the slap. Rock first broke his public silence about the slap three nights after the Oscar ceremony, last year in Boston. “How was your weekend?” he asked the crowd. He added that he was “still kind of processing what happened.”

    After plenty of processing, Rock retook the cultural spotlight just a week before the March 12 Oscars, where the slap is sure to revisited by this year’s host, Jimmy Kimmel. In the aftermath of last year’s events, Smith resigned his membership to the film academy. The academy board of governors banned Smith from the Oscars and all other academy events for a decade.

    At the annual luncheon for nominees held last month, motion picture academy president Janet Yang voiced regret about how the incident was handled, calling the academy’s response “inadequate.” Bill Kramer, the academy’s chief executive, has said the academy has since instituted a crisis communications team to prepare for and more rapidly respond to the unexpected.

    “Selective Outrage” is Rock’s second special for Netflix, following 2018’s “Tamborine.” They’re part of a two-special $40 million deal Rock signed with the streamer in 2016.

    As new as the live “Selective Outrage” was for Netflix, it was hard not to notice a few familiar things about it.

    “You’ve got to give it to the tech companies for inventing something that existed for decades,” said Chieng. “We’re doing a comedy show on Saturday night … live. Genius.”

    A year after Will Smith smacked him on the Academy Awards stage, Chris Rock finally gave his rebuttal in a forceful stand-up special, streamed live on Netflix, in which the comedian bragged that he “took that hit like Pacquiao.”

    The 58-year-old comedian on Saturday night performed his first stand-up special since last year’s Oscars in a much-awaited sequel that had all the hype — and more — of a Manny Pacquaio prizefight. “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage,” streamed live from the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, marked Netflix’s first foray into live streaming. But it was also a long-awaited comedy counterpunch to Academy Awards infamy.

    Rock, performing in all white and with a Prince medallion around his neck, immediately touched on last year’s Oscars while riffing on “wokeness,” hypersensitivity and what he called “selective outrage.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “You never know who might get triggered,” said Rock. “Anybody who says words hurt hasn’t been punched in the face.”

    But Rock then launched into a series of wide-ranging topics examining contemporary issues, including virtue signaling, high-priced yoga pants, the Duchess of Sussex, the Kardashians, abortion rights, the Capitol riot and what he called America’s biggest addition: Attention.

    “We used to want love, now we just want likes,” said Rock.

    Rock, who also riffed on how he’d respond if his father transitioned to a woman (he would support him, Rock said), made clear “Selective Outrage” was not going to be just a Will Smith show. Only occasionally did Rock’s material dovetail with the 2022 Oscars, like it did when Rock joked about the oddity of Snoop Dogg becoming such a venerated pitch man for advertisers.

    “I’m not dissing Snoop,” said Rock. “The last thing I need is another mad rapper.”

    But an hour into his set, Rock closed the special with a torrent of material about the notorious Academy Awards moment.

    ALSO READ | Academy sets up ‘crisis team’ following Will Smith-Chris Rock slap row

    “You all know what happened to me, getting smacked by Suge Smith. Everybody knows,” Rock said. “It still hurts. I got ‘Summertime’ ringing in my ears.”

    While Smith has apologized and repeatedly spoken about the incident since last March, Rock has avoided all the usual platforms where celebrities often go to air their feelings. He never sat down with Oprah Winfrey, and turned away the many media outlets that would have loved to land an exclusive in-depth interview.

    “I’m a not a victim, baby,” said Rock. “You will never see me on Oprah or Gayle crying. You will never see it. Never going to happen.”

    But Rock did use his encounter with Smith to shape and enliven his second stand-up special for Netflix. Some of his best material was on their physical differences.

    “We are not the same size. This guy does movies with his shirt off,” said Rock. “You will never see me do a movie with my shirt off. If I’m in a movie getting open-heart surgery, I got on a sweater.”

    “He played Muhammed Ali,” added Rock. “I played Pookie in ‘New Jack City.’”

    Ultimately, Rock suggested he was just caught in the crossfire in Smith’s relationship with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. It was a joke that Rock told about Pinkett Smith that prompted Smith to stride on stage and strike Rock. The comedian on Saturday referenced Pinkett Smith’s earlier confessions of having an “entanglement” with another man while married.

    “I did not have any entanglements,” said Rock. “She hurt him way more than he hurt me.”

    “I love Will Smith,” added Rock. “Now I watch ‘Emancipation’ just to see him get whooped.”

    Before dropping his microphone and holding his arms up triumphantly, Rock left the crowd with one last zinger. Rock said the reason why he didn’t physically retaliate at the Oscars was because “I got parents.”

    “And you know what my parents taught me?” he said. “Don’t fight in front of white people.”

    Netflix added pre- and post-show bookends of star-studded live programming with, as host comedian Ronny Chieng said, “every comedy legend who owes Netflix a favor.” Bono lent a opening introduction. Dana Carvey and David Spade hosted the after-show. Paul McCartney, Tracy Morgan, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld and one of last year’s Oscar hosts, Wanda Sykes, all added pre-taped messages. Arsenio Hall guaranteed Rock’s set would cause Smith to smack his television set.

    For much of the past year, Rock has been touring new material in a long string of performances as part of his Ego Death tour. The shows, which had been announced before the 2022 Oscars, have featured performances with Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart.

    On the road, Rock has often worked in jokes and reflections on the slap. Rock first broke his public silence about the slap three nights after the Oscar ceremony, last year in Boston. “How was your weekend?” he asked the crowd. He added that he was “still kind of processing what happened.”

    After plenty of processing, Rock retook the cultural spotlight just a week before the March 12 Oscars, where the slap is sure to revisited by this year’s host, Jimmy Kimmel. In the aftermath of last year’s events, Smith resigned his membership to the film academy. The academy board of governors banned Smith from the Oscars and all other academy events for a decade.

    At the annual luncheon for nominees held last month, motion picture academy president Janet Yang voiced regret about how the incident was handled, calling the academy’s response “inadequate.” Bill Kramer, the academy’s chief executive, has said the academy has since instituted a crisis communications team to prepare for and more rapidly respond to the unexpected.

    “Selective Outrage” is Rock’s second special for Netflix, following 2018’s “Tamborine.” They’re part of a two-special $40 million deal Rock signed with the streamer in 2016.

    As new as the live “Selective Outrage” was for Netflix, it was hard not to notice a few familiar things about it.

    “You’ve got to give it to the tech companies for inventing something that existed for decades,” said Chieng. “We’re doing a comedy show on Saturday night … live. Genius.”

  • Slap chat? Chris Rock live Netflix special to air week before Oscars  

    By AFP

    LOS ANGELES: Chris Rock’s live Netflix special will air just a week before the Oscars, the streamer said Tuesday, raising expectations that the comedian will address the shocking moment he was slapped by Will Smith during last year’s Hollywood award show.

    This Saturday evening “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage” will become the first-ever event shown in real time on Netflix, accompanied by pre- and post-show entertainment featuring celebrities from Jerry Seinfeld and Amy Schumer to Sir Paul McCartney and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

    Netflix did not comment on the material of Rock’s main show, but the comic has spent much of the last year touring stand-up venues around the world with a routine that has included jokes about “The Slap.”

    Last March, Smith climbed onto the Oscars stage and slapped Rock across the face in response to a joke the comic made about the closely cropped hair of his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia.

    Rock was asked by Los Angeles police at the time whether he wanted to file a report against Smith, but he declined, and he has not publicly addressed the incident outside of his stand-up shows since.

    “March 4 will be a hilarious evening, with an incredible set from Chris Rock — one of the greatest stand-ups of all-time — and contributions from an amazing lineup of special guests,” said Netflix comedy vice-president Robbie Praw.

    “Our goal is to deliver the best stand-up comedy to our members and this live streaming event further reinforces all the ways we continue to invest in the genre.”

    Netflix, the world’s leading streaming platform, has lured millions of viewers away from traditional broadcast television, but it lost subscribers for the first time last year.

    The company, which has since returned to growth, has been experimenting with various new models, including live content.

    The streaming company already hosts a live comedy festival at more than 35 venues in Los Angeles, though those shows have not yet been available in real time on its platform.

    From next year Netflix will air the Screen Actors Guild awards — an important pre-Oscars Hollywood award show — live on its platform.

    According to multiple reports the company is also looking into offering live sports on its platform. Rivals including Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video already offer live events including sports and musical events.

    Saturday’s comedy show will be Rock’s second for Netflix, after the pre-recorded 2018 “Chris Rock: Tamborine.”

    The 95th Academy Awards take place this year on March 12.

    LOS ANGELES: Chris Rock’s live Netflix special will air just a week before the Oscars, the streamer said Tuesday, raising expectations that the comedian will address the shocking moment he was slapped by Will Smith during last year’s Hollywood award show.

    This Saturday evening “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage” will become the first-ever event shown in real time on Netflix, accompanied by pre- and post-show entertainment featuring celebrities from Jerry Seinfeld and Amy Schumer to Sir Paul McCartney and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

    Netflix did not comment on the material of Rock’s main show, but the comic has spent much of the last year touring stand-up venues around the world with a routine that has included jokes about “The Slap.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Last March, Smith climbed onto the Oscars stage and slapped Rock across the face in response to a joke the comic made about the closely cropped hair of his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia.

    Rock was asked by Los Angeles police at the time whether he wanted to file a report against Smith, but he declined, and he has not publicly addressed the incident outside of his stand-up shows since.

    “March 4 will be a hilarious evening, with an incredible set from Chris Rock — one of the greatest stand-ups of all-time — and contributions from an amazing lineup of special guests,” said Netflix comedy vice-president Robbie Praw.

    “Our goal is to deliver the best stand-up comedy to our members and this live streaming event further reinforces all the ways we continue to invest in the genre.”

    Netflix, the world’s leading streaming platform, has lured millions of viewers away from traditional broadcast television, but it lost subscribers for the first time last year.

    The company, which has since returned to growth, has been experimenting with various new models, including live content.

    The streaming company already hosts a live comedy festival at more than 35 venues in Los Angeles, though those shows have not yet been available in real time on its platform.

    From next year Netflix will air the Screen Actors Guild awards — an important pre-Oscars Hollywood award show — live on its platform.

    According to multiple reports the company is also looking into offering live sports on its platform. Rivals including Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video already offer live events including sports and musical events.

    Saturday’s comedy show will be Rock’s second for Netflix, after the pre-recorded 2018 “Chris Rock: Tamborine.”

    The 95th Academy Awards take place this year on March 12.

  • Academy sets up ‘crisis team’ following Will Smith-Chris Rock slap row

    Express News Service

    After Will Smith slapped stand-up comedian Chris Rock for his joke attempt on the former’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, last year, the Academy has now established a crisis team for the 2023 Oscars. 

    According to reports, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer, in an Interview with Time magazine, confirmed that the crisis team will swiftly navigate any potential emergency.

    It is said that this formation of the crisis team is in response to the 2022 Oscars, where Will Smith infamously walked on stage and slapped presenter Chris Rock. 

    About the newly formed team, Kramer said, “We have a whole crisis team, something we’ve never had before, and many plans in place. We’ve run many scenarios. So it is our hope that we will be prepared for anything that we may not anticipate right now but that we’re planning for just in case it does happen.”

    He further added that depending upon the crisis, the frameworks in place can be modified. Meanwhile, the 2023 Oscars are set to take place on March 12.

    (This story originally appeared in Cinema Express)

    After Will Smith slapped stand-up comedian Chris Rock for his joke attempt on the former’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, last year, the Academy has now established a crisis team for the 2023 Oscars. 

    According to reports, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer, in an Interview with Time magazine, confirmed that the crisis team will swiftly navigate any potential emergency.

    It is said that this formation of the crisis team is in response to the 2022 Oscars, where Will Smith infamously walked on stage and slapped presenter Chris Rock. 

    About the newly formed team, Kramer said, “We have a whole crisis team, something we’ve never had before, and many plans in place. We’ve run many scenarios. So it is our hope that we will be prepared for anything that we may not anticipate right now but that we’re planning for just in case it does happen.”

    He further added that depending upon the crisis, the frameworks in place can be modified. Meanwhile, the 2023 Oscars are set to take place on March 12.

    (This story originally appeared in Cinema Express)

  • Oscars response to Smith slap inadequate, academy head says

    By Associated Press

    LOS ANGELES: The slap sat front and center at Monday’s Oscar nominees luncheon.

    So much so that motion picture academy president Janet Yang neither had to describe it nor say the names Will Smith or Chris Rock for the ballroom full of award hopefuls to know what she was talking about when she aired her regrets.

    “I’m sure you all remember we experienced an unprecedented event at the Oscars,” Yang told a crowd that included Tom Cruise, Angela Bassett, Cate Blanchett and Steven Spielberg during her opening remarks. “What happened onstage was wholly unacceptable and the response from our organization was inadequate.”

    The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did little in response to Smith storming the stage and slapping Rock during last year’s Oscars telecast or in the immediate aftermath. It was nearly two weeks before its board of governors voted to ban Smith from the Oscars and all other academy events for 10 years. Smith had already preemptively resigned as an academy member.

    “We learned from this that the academy must be fully transparent and accountable in our actions,” Yang said, “and particularly in times of crisis you must act swiftly, compassionately and decisively for ourselves and for our industry. You should and can expect no less form us going forward.”

    Yang, who was not president at the time, was interrupted by a mild round of applause, and did not elaborate further, moving on to happier topics.

    Oscar nominees pose for their 2023 class photo at the annual #Oscars luncheon. pic.twitter.com/yYwFiGqdsW
    — AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) February 14, 2023
    She was met with whooping applause when told the nominees that all categories will be shown live on the March 12 ABC telecast. Last year, in a controversy largely eclipsed by the slap, several Oscars were handed out in a pre-telecast ceremony and edited versions of winners’ speeches were squeezed into the main show.

    The luncheon is a warm, feel-good affair where nominees are in general treated with equality, and a relative unknown up for best animated short might be seated next to an A-lister up for best actor.

    Some, of course, attract more attention than others, and don’t need to wear the nametags handed out to all.

    Tom Cruise, nominated as a producer for best picture candidate “Top Gun: Maverick,” managed briefly to mix in with the crowd in a ballroom at the Beverly Hilton before he attracted a crowd of gawkers.

    He and Jamie Lee Curtis, up for best supporting actress for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” pressed their foreheads together and giggled when they bumped into each other.

    He smiled widely as he posed for photos with his old “War of the Worlds” and “Minority Report” collaborator Steven Spielberg, up for best director for “The Fabelmans,” and Michelle Yeoh, up for best actress for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” the year’s most nominated film.

    In a pairing representative of the random-seeming seating chart, Odessa Rae, producer of the nominated documentary feature “Navalny,” chatted with table-mate and best actor nominee Colin Farrell during the lunch of risotto and oyster mushrooms cut to resemble scallops.

    Michelle Williams, from left, Hong Chau, Tom Cruise, and Steven Spielberg attend the 95th Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon on February 13, 2023. (Photo | AP)

    At another table nearby, Brian Tyree Henry, best supporting actor nominee for “Causeway,” laughed with Jenny Slate, voice star of animated feature nominee “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On.”

    The centerpiece of the luncheon is the class picture, the staging of which feels like a high school graduation. An academy governor read off the names of 182 nominees and their peers cheered as they walked up and took their spots on the risers.

    “Jamie Lee Curtis,” producer DeVon Franklin enunciated loudly into the mic. Curtis leapt up and got a big ovation as she climbed alone to the top tier.

    Henry, a first-time nominee, stood at his table, raised an arm in the air and yelped when his name was called.

    Ke Huy Quan, another first-timer, up for best supporting actor for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” ran up to his spot in front and shook his fists in triumph. He hugged “Babylon” composer Justin Hurwitz, assigned to stand next to him.

    Bassett, nominated for best supporting actress for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” got one of the afternoon’s biggest cheers when her name was called, and hugged Cruise when she got to her spot next to him.

    The luncheon also functions as an Oscars orientation for would-be winners. Yang emphasized that acceptance speeches at next month’s ceremony have to be kept to 45 seconds.

    “Let’s say it together, 45 seconds,” she told the crowd.

    They repeated it back to her in unison, though at least a few are sure to forget — or ignore her — once they get the statue in their hands.

    LOS ANGELES: The slap sat front and center at Monday’s Oscar nominees luncheon.

    So much so that motion picture academy president Janet Yang neither had to describe it nor say the names Will Smith or Chris Rock for the ballroom full of award hopefuls to know what she was talking about when she aired her regrets.

    “I’m sure you all remember we experienced an unprecedented event at the Oscars,” Yang told a crowd that included Tom Cruise, Angela Bassett, Cate Blanchett and Steven Spielberg during her opening remarks. “What happened onstage was wholly unacceptable and the response from our organization was inadequate.”

    The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did little in response to Smith storming the stage and slapping Rock during last year’s Oscars telecast or in the immediate aftermath. It was nearly two weeks before its board of governors voted to ban Smith from the Oscars and all other academy events for 10 years. Smith had already preemptively resigned as an academy member.

    “We learned from this that the academy must be fully transparent and accountable in our actions,” Yang said, “and particularly in times of crisis you must act swiftly, compassionately and decisively for ourselves and for our industry. You should and can expect no less form us going forward.”

    Yang, who was not president at the time, was interrupted by a mild round of applause, and did not elaborate further, moving on to happier topics.

    Oscar nominees pose for their 2023 class photo at the annual #Oscars luncheon. pic.twitter.com/yYwFiGqdsW
    — AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) February 14, 2023
    She was met with whooping applause when told the nominees that all categories will be shown live on the March 12 ABC telecast. Last year, in a controversy largely eclipsed by the slap, several Oscars were handed out in a pre-telecast ceremony and edited versions of winners’ speeches were squeezed into the main show.

    The luncheon is a warm, feel-good affair where nominees are in general treated with equality, and a relative unknown up for best animated short might be seated next to an A-lister up for best actor.

    Some, of course, attract more attention than others, and don’t need to wear the nametags handed out to all.

    Tom Cruise, nominated as a producer for best picture candidate “Top Gun: Maverick,” managed briefly to mix in with the crowd in a ballroom at the Beverly Hilton before he attracted a crowd of gawkers.

    He and Jamie Lee Curtis, up for best supporting actress for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” pressed their foreheads together and giggled when they bumped into each other.

    He smiled widely as he posed for photos with his old “War of the Worlds” and “Minority Report” collaborator Steven Spielberg, up for best director for “The Fabelmans,” and Michelle Yeoh, up for best actress for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” the year’s most nominated film.

    In a pairing representative of the random-seeming seating chart, Odessa Rae, producer of the nominated documentary feature “Navalny,” chatted with table-mate and best actor nominee Colin Farrell during the lunch of risotto and oyster mushrooms cut to resemble scallops.

    Michelle Williams, from left, Hong Chau, Tom Cruise, and Steven Spielberg attend the 95th Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon on February 13, 2023. (Photo | AP)

    At another table nearby, Brian Tyree Henry, best supporting actor nominee for “Causeway,” laughed with Jenny Slate, voice star of animated feature nominee “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On.”

    The centerpiece of the luncheon is the class picture, the staging of which feels like a high school graduation. An academy governor read off the names of 182 nominees and their peers cheered as they walked up and took their spots on the risers.

    “Jamie Lee Curtis,” producer DeVon Franklin enunciated loudly into the mic. Curtis leapt up and got a big ovation as she climbed alone to the top tier.

    Henry, a first-time nominee, stood at his table, raised an arm in the air and yelped when his name was called.

    Ke Huy Quan, another first-timer, up for best supporting actor for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” ran up to his spot in front and shook his fists in triumph. He hugged “Babylon” composer Justin Hurwitz, assigned to stand next to him.

    Bassett, nominated for best supporting actress for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” got one of the afternoon’s biggest cheers when her name was called, and hugged Cruise when she got to her spot next to him.

    The luncheon also functions as an Oscars orientation for would-be winners. Yang emphasized that acceptance speeches at next month’s ceremony have to be kept to 45 seconds.

    “Let’s say it together, 45 seconds,” she told the crowd.

    They repeated it back to her in unison, though at least a few are sure to forget — or ignore her — once they get the statue in their hands.

  • Chris Rock tapped to be first comedian to perform live on Netflix

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: Comedian Chris Rock is set to become the first funnyman to perform live on streaming giant Netflix.Robbie Praw, the vice-president of stand-up and comedy formats at Netflix, announced that the 57-year-old star will make history when he performs in a yet-to-be-titled comedy special in 2023, reports aceshowbiz.com.”Chris Rock is one of the most iconic and important comedic voices of our generation. We’re thrilled the entire world will be able to experience a live Chris Rock comedy event and be a part of Netflix history,” Robbie said.”This will be an unforgettable moment and we’re so honoured that Chris is carrying this torch.”Rock previously joined forces with Netflix in 2018, when his stand-up special, ‘Chris Rock: Tamborine’, aired on the streaming platform.Earlier this year, meanwhile, Rock was involved in an infamous on-stage clash with Will Smith at the Oscars. The 54-year-old actor smacked Chris after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, Will’s wife, and the Hollywood star subsequently described his behaviour at the Oscars as “shocking, painful, and inexcusable.”

    LOS ANGELES: Comedian Chris Rock is set to become the first funnyman to perform live on streaming giant Netflix.
    Robbie Praw, the vice-president of stand-up and comedy formats at Netflix, announced that the 57-year-old star will make history when he performs in a yet-to-be-titled comedy special in 2023, reports aceshowbiz.com.
    “Chris Rock is one of the most iconic and important comedic voices of our generation. We’re thrilled the entire world will be able to experience a live Chris Rock comedy event and be a part of Netflix history,” Robbie said.
    “This will be an unforgettable moment and we’re so honoured that Chris is carrying this torch.”
    Rock previously joined forces with Netflix in 2018, when his stand-up special, ‘Chris Rock: Tamborine’, aired on the streaming platform.
    Earlier this year, meanwhile, Rock was involved in an infamous on-stage clash with Will Smith at the Oscars. The 54-year-old actor smacked Chris after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, Will’s wife, and the Hollywood star subsequently described his behaviour at the Oscars as “shocking, painful, and inexcusable.”

  • Comedian Chris Rock to go live on Netflix in a first for the streamer

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: Popular comedian Chris Rock will be the first artist to perform live on Netflix for the company’s maiden live, global streaming event.

    In a press release issued on Friday, Netflix said the comedy special will stream in early 2023.

    “Chris Rock is one of the most iconic and important comedic voices of our generation. We’re thrilled the entire world will be able to experience a live Chris Rock comedy event and be a part of Netflix history. This will be an unforgettable moment and we’re so honoured that Chris is carrying this torch,” said Robbie Praw, Netflix Vice President of Stand-up and Comedy Formats.

    Rock previously collaborated with Netflix on the comedy special “Tamborine” in 2018. He also appeared at the streamer’s “Netflix Is a Joke” comedy festival earlier in 2022.

    The comedian is currently on his Ego Death world tour, with shows planned through in California, Texas, and Washington.

    Earlier this year, Rock was welcomed amid applause and two standing ovations at the comedy club where he made his first public appearance since Will Smith slapped him during the 2022 Oscars ceremony.

    LOS ANGELES: Popular comedian Chris Rock will be the first artist to perform live on Netflix for the company’s maiden live, global streaming event.

    In a press release issued on Friday, Netflix said the comedy special will stream in early 2023.

    “Chris Rock is one of the most iconic and important comedic voices of our generation. We’re thrilled the entire world will be able to experience a live Chris Rock comedy event and be a part of Netflix history. This will be an unforgettable moment and we’re so honoured that Chris is carrying this torch,” said Robbie Praw, Netflix Vice President of Stand-up and Comedy Formats.

    Rock previously collaborated with Netflix on the comedy special “Tamborine” in 2018. He also appeared at the streamer’s “Netflix Is a Joke” comedy festival earlier in 2022.

    The comedian is currently on his Ego Death world tour, with shows planned through in California, Texas, and Washington.

    Earlier this year, Rock was welcomed amid applause and two standing ovations at the comedy club where he made his first public appearance since Will Smith slapped him during the 2022 Oscars ceremony.

  • World should stop judging Will Smith for slapping Chris Rock: Kevin Hart

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: Actor Kevin Hart continues defending Hollywood star Will Smith in the wake of the Oscars slap.

    In a new interview, the comedian insinuated that his friend deserves a shot at redemption and that people should stop judging Will after slapping Chris Rock, reports aceshowbiz.com.

    Sitting down with N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN on Revolt’s ‘Drink Champs’, Kevin was asked during a round of Quicktime or Slime who he’d choose between Ice Cube or Will Smith.

    Carefully picking his words, the ‘Ride Along’ star deliberately responded, “Dark times deserve f**king great light. I’m not going to s**t on my brother. They both are my brothers, but I’m not going to take time to s**t on them.”

    Making his choice, the 43-year-old said, “I’m going to say Will Smith and here’s why: Will Smith is not only a legend, he’s not only a GOAT…” When N.O.R.E. interrupted him to call Will “a gangster” for slapping Rock, Hart seemed to disagree saying, “Those are your words, not mine.”

    Hart went on to praise Smith: “Will Smith is the reason why the idea of African Americans (being) attached to global IP is normal. Studios took the gamble on more leads of colour because of the work that Will Smith and (Denzel Washington) were on in the beginning.”

    ALSO READ | Will Smith gets permanently banned from ‘SNL’ after slapping Chris Rock

    He added, “You need the faces that are giving a universal return. I’m not going to s**t on Will and act like he wasn’t that guy.”

    As for the aftermath of the Oscars slap, Kevin weighed in, “People make mistakes, and from mistakes, they should be allowed time to recover.”

    He went on noting that Smith and Rock should figure things out between them privately, stressing, “And that this is no longer the world’s problem. It’s Will and Chris’ problem, and let them deal with that. The world should step out of it.”

    Hart previously said that Will is “apologetic” and in a “better space” months after his controversial behaviour at the awards-giving event.

    Interestingly, Hart also maintains a good friendship with Rock. In the same month, he and the Amsterdam star co-headlined a comedy show at Madison Square Garden in NYC, during which Dave Chappelle opened for them.

    LOS ANGELES: Actor Kevin Hart continues defending Hollywood star Will Smith in the wake of the Oscars slap.

    In a new interview, the comedian insinuated that his friend deserves a shot at redemption and that people should stop judging Will after slapping Chris Rock, reports aceshowbiz.com.

    Sitting down with N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN on Revolt’s ‘Drink Champs’, Kevin was asked during a round of Quicktime or Slime who he’d choose between Ice Cube or Will Smith.

    Carefully picking his words, the ‘Ride Along’ star deliberately responded, “Dark times deserve f**king great light. I’m not going to s**t on my brother. They both are my brothers, but I’m not going to take time to s**t on them.”

    Making his choice, the 43-year-old said, “I’m going to say Will Smith and here’s why: Will Smith is not only a legend, he’s not only a GOAT…” When N.O.R.E. interrupted him to call Will “a gangster” for slapping Rock, Hart seemed to disagree saying, “Those are your words, not mine.”

    Hart went on to praise Smith: “Will Smith is the reason why the idea of African Americans (being) attached to global IP is normal. Studios took the gamble on more leads of colour because of the work that Will Smith and (Denzel Washington) were on in the beginning.”

    ALSO READ | Will Smith gets permanently banned from ‘SNL’ after slapping Chris Rock

    He added, “You need the faces that are giving a universal return. I’m not going to s**t on Will and act like he wasn’t that guy.”

    As for the aftermath of the Oscars slap, Kevin weighed in, “People make mistakes, and from mistakes, they should be allowed time to recover.”

    He went on noting that Smith and Rock should figure things out between them privately, stressing, “And that this is no longer the world’s problem. It’s Will and Chris’ problem, and let them deal with that. The world should step out of it.”

    Hart previously said that Will is “apologetic” and in a “better space” months after his controversial behaviour at the awards-giving event.

    Interestingly, Hart also maintains a good friendship with Rock. In the same month, he and the Amsterdam star co-headlined a comedy show at Madison Square Garden in NYC, during which Dave Chappelle opened for them.

  • Will Smith gets permanently banned from ‘SNL’ after slapping Chris Rock

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: Hollywood star Will Smith is apparently not welcome back on “Saturday Night Live.” The actor is reportedly being permanently banned after slapping comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.

    The ‘NBC’ sketch series is reportedly banning the actor permanently following the Oscars slap, reports aceshowbiz.com.

    According to Radar Online, the ‘King Richard’ star will never be invited back to ‘SNL’ after what he did to Chris Rock at the March event. The comedian is a former important part of the show, having starred in it from 1990 to 1993.

    “Smith will never ever be invited back to ‘SNL’ after what he did to Chris,” a source told the site. “The show is a temple comedian, and no one wants him around anymore.”

    “Forget hosting, Will won’t even be able to get a ticket to sit in the audience anymore. He’s not welcome.”

    The show’s producers are allegedly also worried that if Smith comes to the show again, other big celebrities will refuse to join in the future.

    “If Will Smith was invited back, ‘SNL’ would never get another big celebrity ever again,” the source explains.

    “Stars would rightly boycott the show if he was welcomed inside Studio 8H.”

    ALSO READ | Will Smith posts an apology video for slapping Chris Rock

    Will slapped Chris at the 2022 Academy Awards in March over the latter’s joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. He then shouted at the comedian, who was presenting onstage, twice to “keep my wife’s name out of your f**king mouth!”

    Will has apologised several times for his behaviour at the live event.

    In a video posted in July, the actor said, “It’s all fuzzy. I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behaviour was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk. I hate when I let people down. So it hurts, it hurts me psychologically and emotionally to know I didn’t live up to people’s image and impression of me.”

    “And the work I’m trying to do is, I am deeply remorseful and I’m trying to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself,” he added. “I’m human and I made a mistake, and I’m trying not to think of myself as a piece of s**t.”

    However, Rock seemingly didn’t accept the apology as he said earlier this month, “F**k your hostage video,” during his stand-up show at London’s O2 Arena. He went on calling out the Oscar-winning actor saying that Will had managed to do an impersonation of a “perfect man for 30 years” before showing he is “just as ugly as the rest of us.”

    LOS ANGELES: Hollywood star Will Smith is apparently not welcome back on “Saturday Night Live.” The actor is reportedly being permanently banned after slapping comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.

    The ‘NBC’ sketch series is reportedly banning the actor permanently following the Oscars slap, reports aceshowbiz.com.

    According to Radar Online, the ‘King Richard’ star will never be invited back to ‘SNL’ after what he did to Chris Rock at the March event. The comedian is a former important part of the show, having starred in it from 1990 to 1993.

    “Smith will never ever be invited back to ‘SNL’ after what he did to Chris,” a source told the site. “The show is a temple comedian, and no one wants him around anymore.”

    “Forget hosting, Will won’t even be able to get a ticket to sit in the audience anymore. He’s not welcome.”

    The show’s producers are allegedly also worried that if Smith comes to the show again, other big celebrities will refuse to join in the future.

    “If Will Smith was invited back, ‘SNL’ would never get another big celebrity ever again,” the source explains.

    “Stars would rightly boycott the show if he was welcomed inside Studio 8H.”

    ALSO READ | Will Smith posts an apology video for slapping Chris Rock

    Will slapped Chris at the 2022 Academy Awards in March over the latter’s joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. He then shouted at the comedian, who was presenting onstage, twice to “keep my wife’s name out of your f**king mouth!”

    Will has apologised several times for his behaviour at the live event.

    In a video posted in July, the actor said, “It’s all fuzzy. I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behaviour was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk. I hate when I let people down. So it hurts, it hurts me psychologically and emotionally to know I didn’t live up to people’s image and impression of me.”

    “And the work I’m trying to do is, I am deeply remorseful and I’m trying to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself,” he added. “I’m human and I made a mistake, and I’m trying not to think of myself as a piece of s**t.”

    However, Rock seemingly didn’t accept the apology as he said earlier this month, “F**k your hostage video,” during his stand-up show at London’s O2 Arena. He went on calling out the Oscar-winning actor saying that Will had managed to do an impersonation of a “perfect man for 30 years” before showing he is “just as ugly as the rest of us.”