Jimmy Kimmel Jokes About ‘The Slap’ While Hosting the Oscars



It would have been weird not to mention it, so Jimmy Kimmel addressed “The Slap,” aka the infamous scandal that saw Will Smith slapping Chris Rock across the face at the Academy Award last year. For this year’s ceremony, Kimmel was serving as the host, and he teased ahead of the event that he’d be commenting on the situation in some way. Kimmel acknowledged that the incident had gotten way too much attention that it felt necessary to give it a mention, but not to spend a lot of time harping on it.

“Whatever I say about it, it’s going to have to be great, right? Because so much has been said and there’s so much focus on it,” Kimmel said in THR interview. “I obviously don’t want to make the whole monologue about that, but it would be ridiculous not to mention it.”

Live on ABC on Sunday night, it wasn’t long before Kimmel indeed joked about the incident during the broadcast. The moment came in Kimmel’s opening monologue when he noted that he wanted everyone in the audience to feel safe, but as well, he also wants himself to feel safe. While not addressing Will Smith or Chris Rock by name, Kimmel then joked about the lack of reaction that happened to last year’s big slap.

“We want you to have fun, feel safe, and, most importantly, we want me to feel safe,” Kimmel quipped. “So, we have strict policies in pace. If anyone in this theater commits an act of violence at any point during the show, you will be awarded the Oscar for Best Actor and permitted to give a 19-minute-long speech. But, seriously, the Academy has a crisis team in place. If anything unpredictable or violent happens during the show, sit there and do absolutely nothing. Maybe even give the assailant a hug.”

Related: Chris Rock’s Botched Will Smith Joke Edited Out of Netflix Special

Will Smith Can’t Attend for the Next Decade

ABC

A lot can happen in a year’s time, and it wasn’t exactly what would be resulting from the incident last year when it first went down. At the ceremony, Chris Rock was on stage as an award presenter when he was cracking some jokes about various celebrities in the audience. He commented on Jada Pinkett Smith’s short-cut hairstyle by telling her he couldnt wait to see G.I. Jane 2, a joke that made the actress visibly uncomfortable. This led to Smith smacking Rock on the stage before going on to scream obscenities at Rock, demanding the comedian no longer speak about his wife.

Smith was not removed from the building immediately following the incident, and he instead went on to win a Best Actor award and give an impassioned speech. The Academy was later criticized for a lack of response, resulting in a new “crisis team” had had been put together to watch for unexpected situations like this starting with the 2023 ceremony. Smith has since apologized publicyl for his actions and has been banned from attending the Oscars for the next decade. Meanwhile, Rock fired back at Smith with his new Netflix special, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, which addressed “The Slap” head on. It was the first time Rock had publicly spoken about the incident, almost one full year after it happened.

You can view the original article HERE.

Michigan Politician Swears Gonzaga Hoops Team Buses Are Full Of ‘Illegal Invaders’
Kanye West Avoided Diddy Meetup During Rolling Loud Performance
Marvel’s Blade Delayed Amid Writers Strike
Diddy Seen Talking with Federal Agents at Airport as Associate is Arrested
Sydney Sweeney Swaps Madame Web’s Spider-Woman For Power Girl in DC Fan Art
Giancarlo Esposito Can’t Keep Overcrowded, Rushed Parish on the Road | TV/Streaming
Femme Review | An Edge-of-Your-Seat Queering of the Neo-Noir Crime Thriller
Gillian Anderson Reveals Why She Almost Gave Up Acting 24 Years Ago
Fake and laced benzos are circulating in the UK – causing a “fentanyl-style epidemic”
Lzzy Hale to front Skid Row for upcoming tour
Cillian Murphy reveals he’s gone vegan
‘The Bear’ star is favourite to play Bruce Springsteen in new movie
Panthers sign Clowney to reported 2-year deal
Ham thrilled as Lakers rally for ‘top-3’ win of year
Report: Cowboys haven’t made Dak extension offers
The Money Game: How Much Can College Athletes Earn with NIL
One Euphoria Actor Doubts Season 3 Will Ever Be Made
Chicago PD Season 11 Episode 8 Review: On Paper
Malcolm in the Middle Revival Now the ‘Closest It’s Ever Been,’ Frankie Muniz Reveals
The Good Doctor Season 7 Episode 4 Review: Date Night
Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank, and More Announce Return!
Swarovski’s Underwater Glamazons, Megahn Markle’s Beauty Line, & More!
Cher’s Closet From Clueless Is Becoming A Reality, Thanks To Vêtir
Suki Waterhouse and Robert Pattinson Welcome Their First Baby!