The one-year anniversary of "Slapgate" is quickly approaching, and Chris Rock is finally speaking out about the incident. In his new Netflix comedy special, the South Carolina native doesn't hold back while recalling last year's Oscar Awards, where he was promptly slapped across the face by Will Smith after making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's bald head. The Gemini Man actor faced severe consequences as a result of his violent outburst, though he seems to be making his way back into the public's good graces as of late.
Rock, however, is receiving mixed reviews for some of the comments made during his new stand-up show. His rant about Meghan Markle calling the Royal Family "racist" has earned the 57-year-old backlash for "punching down on Black women," not to mention the things he had to say about Pinkett Smith and her husband. "Years ago, his wife said I should quit the Oscars. I shouldn't host 'cause her man didn't get nominated for Concussion. And then he gives me a f*cking concussion," he joked at one point.
Chris Rock's Comedy Special Addresses "The Slap"
Elsewhere in the lengthy Netflix project, Rock claims that Pinkett Smith is actually to blame for starting their beef. "I did some jokes about her. Who gives a f*ck? That's how it is: She starts it, I finish it," he told the crowd in Baltimore. "That's what the f*ck happened. Nobody's pickin' on this bitch. She started this shit. Nobody was pickin' on her." While the father of two had the opportunity to tell his side of the story, insiders have dished to PEOPLE about what the Red Table Talk host is thinking.
"She never asked Chris to not host the Oscars ever. She publicly said in a Facebook post at the time Chris would be a great Oscars host and is perfect for the job," they explained to the outlet. Additionally, sources expressed shock at how many times Rock described Pinkett Smith using the word "bitch." Rather than playing into the drama online, however, the mother of two is "focused on her book that will come out this year."
Comedian is "Obsessed" with Jada Pinkett Smith, Sources Say
Apparently, Chris Rock's targeting of Pinkett Smith is nothing new. "[He] is obsessed with her and that's been going on for almost 30 years," insiders claim. "Look where he chose to film his Netflix special. Her hometown. Obsessed. Jada has had no part in this other than being heckled." They also add that "Back in 2016, she helped start a movement with the Academy Awards by questioning why there are so few Black members, and Chris took it to this?" Read what Twitter has been saying about the new comedy special here, and check back later for more pop culture news updates.
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