Chris Rock's mother, Rosalie "Rose" Rock, has finally broken her silence about Will Smith's slap on her son during the 94th annual Academy Awards. The author and motivational speaker talked to South Carolina's WIS-TV in an interview and she did not hold back when discussing the slap heard around the world.
Rose revealed in the interview that she was one of the many watching the Oscars that night. According to the matriarch, she initially believed that Will Smith's slap on her son was staged. That thinking all changed, though, when Smith started using obscenities after returning to his seat at the event.
Rock, who has attended the Oscars with her son numerous times in the past, asserted in the interview that when Smith slapped Chris, he slapped all of them, likely referring to the entire Rock family. Rose did not mince any words when talking about Smith, saying "he really slapped me."
Will Smith's slap took away from winner's moment
Rock was also asked about Smith's mindset during that time. She said that Smith reacted to his wife giving him the side-eye and he went and made her day because she was mulled over laughing when it happened.
According to Cinema Blend, Chris Rock took to the stage at the 94th Oscars to present the award for Best Documentary Feature. The comedian opened his spot with a few jokes with Rock quipping during that time that he was looking forward to seeing Will Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, in a G.I. Jane sequel.
Rock's joke was a reference to Pinkett Smith's shaved head. Shortly after Rock made that joke, the King Richard star walked on stage and slapped the Grown Ups actor. Rock declined to press charges against Smith after the slapping incident.
Questlove and co. won the aforementioned Documentary Oscar for Summer of Soul and Rose Rock said that her son was excited about the prospect of potentially presenting the award to the esteemed musician. Rose believes the slap ultimately took away from the winner's moment, saying that no one even heard his speech and that no one was able to just be in the moment because everyone was sitting there asking, 'What just happened?'
Rose Rock joins son Tony in blasting Will Smith for his Oscars slap
Rose Rock's sentiments on the Oscars slap echoed those made by her other son, Tony Rock. The actor and comedian stated that the video of the Oscars slap "eats at" him. He added that he takes no pleasure in seeing "a loved one being attacked and there is nothing you can do about it." Rock also declared there was no reason for the slap as his brother "was no threat to" Will Smith.
Us Weekly reported that the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum apologized to Chris Rock a day after the slap and later resigned from the Academy. He made that decision ahead of being expelled from the institution for 10 years as punishment for his actions during the Oscars.
