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GILBERT GOTTFRIED MADE HIS FEELINGS ON WILL SMITH'S OSCARS SLAP CLEAR
By STEPHANIE SALA
On April 12, Gilbert Gottfried's family announced the beloved comedian had died due to a long-term illness. The unexpected news of Gottfried's death has caused an emotional response from his friends and fans on social media.
Two weeks before his death, Gottfried showed his support for fellow comedian Chris Rock during the Will Smith slap controversy. While some celebrities — like Tiffany Haddish — took Will's side in the argument, Gottfried stood up for Rock in the public discourse.
Under an old photo of the smiling pair, Gottfried wrote, "Which is the worst crime? Chris Rock being physically assaulted or Chris Rock telling a joke?" Gottfried jokingly added in an interview, “If Will Smith is reading this, dear God, please don't come to my shows.”
Gottfried was famous for pushing the envelope in his comedy routines and roast sets. When asked about Smith versus Rock, Gottfried cited a famous quote by George Carlin: "It's the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.”