By Kalhan Rosenblatt -
NBC News
Rosalie Rock, the mother of comedian Chris Rock, criticized actor Will Smith for slapping her son during the film Oscars on March 27: "When he slapped Chris, he slapped us all," she said. this Friday in an interview with local station WIS-TV, "he really slapped me."
[Will Smith Punches Chris Rock at the Oscars Live]
Smith hit Rock after the comedian, who was hosting the ceremony, made a joking comment about the actor's wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith.
Rock suggested that the interpreter could appear in a new
GI Jane movie,
because the protagonist of that film has shaved hair and Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia (loss of hair) due to an autoimmune disease.
Rosalie Rock with her son on arrival at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscars after-party. John Shearer/Getty Images
"You reacted when your wife gave you a sidelong glance and you went over and made her day because she was laughing her head off when it happened," Rose Rock said of Will Smith, who decided to take the Oscars stage after hearing the comedian's comment.
[Academy bans Will Smith from Oscars for 10 years after Chris Rock slap]
Rose Rock said her son was very excited to introduce musician Questlove, who won an Oscar for the documentary
Summer of Soul
, and the moment was spoiled by the incident, which left audiences in stunned silence and was broadcast live to millions of viewers. homes around the world.
“No one heard his [Questlove] speech.
No one was able to just enjoy the moment because everyone was sitting there wondering, 'what just happened?'” he said.
Rose Rock explained that after the ceremony she called her son, since she had not attended, and told him how proud she was of how he had reacted (without showing anger or violence).
"The list of those I have hurt is long."
Will Smith resigns from the Hollywood Film Academy
April 2, 202201:40
Smith, who won an Oscar that same night for his performance in
King Richard,
excused himself in his speech after receiving the award, then resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which in turn banned him from attending the ceremony for 10 years. years.
[Will Smith Refused to Leave Oscars Ceremony After Punching Chris Rock, Academy Says]
Rock barely touched on the slap in his first comedy appearance days after the Oscars, saying he would talk in detail about what happened at some point: "I'm still processing what happened," he said at The Wilbur theater on March 30. March.