Over a week after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars on March 27, 2022, people are still talking about the incident, including celebrities such as Tiffany Haddish and Judd Apatow. Now, Billy Crystal has something to say about #SlapGate, as both a comedian and nine-time Oscars host.

Billy Crystal said of the slap, “It was an assault. I've had experiences. I hosted the Grammys three times, and I've been thrown things.” Crystal called the Smith-Rock debacle “disturbing” and worse than any incidents he’s dealt with, and commented on the importance of hosting duties in such situations.

Crystal explained that the host should show the audience that someone is in charge, and deal with difficult or tense situations. He recalled an instance where comedians Jackie Mason and Little Richard made inflammatory remarks at the Grammys, and Crystal, the host, diffused the situation with a joke.

During a dress rehearsal for his Broadway show “Mr. Saturday Night,” Crystal also quipped, “We got through a show and no one got slapped. Unbelievable.” Meanwhile, Will Smith may soon face disciplinary action from the Academy, though he personally resigned from the organization on April 1, 2022.