Chris Rock To Address Will Smith Slap During Netflix Special: Report

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94th Annual Academy Awards - Show
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Will Smith appears to slap Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Chris Rock will reportedly address the infamous Oscars slap during his upcoming Netflix special.

It’s been nearly a year since Will Smith slapped the taste out of Chris Rock’s mouth during the Oscars. The infamous moment continues to haunt both actors to this day. Smith remains rather lowkey in the public eye, though he’s slowly reintegrating into Hollywood, thanks to the success of movies like Emancipation. Rock, however, has continued to dominate the stand-up circuit. However, it’s unlikely that we’ll see him take on hosting or presenting duties at any award show in the near future.

Chris Rock’s currently gearing up for his big Netflix special, Selective Outrage. The groundbreaking stand-up set will mark Netflix’s first live-streamed comedy show since its inception. They already announced that Rock expanded the line-up to include revered comics like Jerry Seinfeld, David Spade, Amy Schumer, and Dana Carvey. The special airs on March 4th at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m ET, and it sounds like it’s on pace to do some massive numbers. If so, we could definitely expect Netflix to host more live events in the future. 

Chris Rock Will Address Oscar Moment 

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Will Smith appears to slap Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Chris Rock and Will Smith are certainly not on good terms, but the former appears ready to publicly address the elephant in the room. According to Page Six sources, the comedian is preparing to open up about the situation for the first time publicly. “If you were waiting to see Rock on tour address the infamous Will Smith slap situation . . . the comedian is waiting to spill his humorous take on it on his live Netflix stand-up special,” the source told the publication. 

It seems as though we’ll finally get to hear Chris Rock’s side of the story. Though he’s referenced the incident during his recent tour, calling Will the “softest” person and nicknaming him “Suge Smith,” he hasn’t publicly discussed the matter. Smith previously extended an olive branch but revealed that Rock wasn’t willing to open up a conversation with him. Perhaps, the upcoming Netflix special will help the two put this situation in the past. Whether or not they’ll ever be cool again remains unseen. Chris Rock’s Selective Outrage takes place at Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore this Friday. Will you be tuning in?

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About The Author
Aron A.
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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