Chris Rock's Mother Gives Her Unfiltered Thoughts About Will Smith In Oscars Aftermath
Just when you've thought that you've heard everyone give and share their opinions about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock across the face at the 2022 Oscars, you might want to think again. It seems like the topic just won't go away as many critics on social media, along with those interested in water cooler gossip and even high-profile celebrities have weighed in about the matter.
Speaking about the slap, Denzel Washington said that "for whatever reason, the devil got ahold" of Smith, per The Wrap, while "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" star Tatyana Ali wrote on Twitter, "I don't know what caused that chaos & confusion, but I do know that Will has a big heart." Ali also made clear that despite having compassion for her former co-star, she wasn't alright with what happened, adding, "I love #WillSmith very much. @chrisrock didn't deserve to be hit. Period."
And while Chris' own brother Kenny Rock has made it clear that he has no time for Smith's apologies or excuses, it's his mother, Rose Rock, who is now offering her unfiltered thoughts about Smith in this Oscars aftermath. What she has to say is likely not all that surprising to anyone at all.
Rose Rock gives her take on the slap
No mother on this planet wants to see their child in pain and Chris Rock's mother is no different. In an interview with South Carolina's WIS Channel 5, the comedian's mother Rose Rock said that if there was anyone who felt the pain of Will Smith slapping her son across the face in front of an audience of millions of people, it was her.
Rose said that when Smith made the decision to get out of his chair and walk across the stage to slap Rock, "He slapped all of us," adding, "he really slapped me." She also hinted that Smith did this just to appease his wife Jada Pinkett Smith after Chris made a joke at her expense. Rose continued, "You reacted to your wife giving you the side-eye and you went and made her day because she was mulled over laughing when it happened."
Meanwhile, Chris has revealed that the only way he'll ever talk about the slap is if he gets a hefty paycheck for it. Well, judging by what his mother has to say about it, we have a feeling that Chris' take on the slap is probably worth millions, if not more.
Rose Rock's issues go beyond the slap
If that weren't enough, Chris Rock's mother Rose Rock admitted that her son was very excited to give Questlove his Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. Unfortunately, that moment was completely overshadowed by Will Smith, who became the focal point for the remainder of the night. She explained to WIS News Channel 10, "No one even heard his speech. No one was able to just be in the moment because everyone was sitting there like, 'what just happened?'"
Interestingly enough, neither Will Smith nor Chris have yet to acknowledge the fact that Questlove was robbed of the attention that he deserved because of Smith's behavior. Not only that, but Rose also pointed out that so many things could have happened following the slap. She said that things could have been significantly worse for her son if he would have fallen after the slap. The comedian's mother also pointed out that Smith could have been taken off the stage in handcuffs, but that didn't happen either.
Despite the pain that she felt for Chris that night, she wouldn't want to see one specific thing happen to Smith, regardless of the hurt that he might have inflicted on the Rock family. So, what might that be?
Rose Rock is still waiting for a better apology
As many fans know by now, the Academy took action by slapping back at Will Smith with a long-term ban for his behavior on the night of the Oscars. Before that though, Smith resigned from his spot at the Academy and released a statement that said (per Variety), "Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason."
While there was some earlier speculation on whether or not Smith would get his Best Actor Oscar award taken away from him, that didn't happen. And according to Chris Rock's mother Rose Rock, that shouldn't happen either. She told WIS Channel 10, "I wouldn't take his award away, and I don't see any good way they could have taken him out without disrupting."
However, what hurts Rose the most is that Smith has apparently never formally apologized to her son. "I mean his people wrote up a piece saying I apologize to Chris Rock, but you see something like that is personal, you reach out," she added. In other words, her son might still be waiting for that text.