Chris Rock Blames Jada Pinkett Smith for the Tension with Will Smith That Led to the Oscars Slap

By Koimoi.com Team– January 11, 2025 | 7:03 PM IST

Did you ever think the infamous Oscars slap was just about a G.I. Jane joke? Think again. Chris Rock recently revealed that Jada Pinkett Smith was the real spark behind the tension between him and Will Smith that culminated in the shocking incident at the 2022 Academy Awards.

During his Netflix special, Rock opened up about the years-long buildup. He traced the drama back to 2016, when Will didn’t receive an Oscar nomination for Concussion. According to Rock, Jada told him he should step down as the host of the Oscars that year because of the snub. “Years ago, his wife told me I should quit the Oscars because her husband didn’t get nominated,” Rock recalled. But Rock didn’t back down and went on to host the event anyway.

Fast forward to the 2022 Oscars, where Rock cracked a joke about Jada’s shaved head, leading to Will storming the stage and slapping him. While many viewed the slap as a spontaneous reaction, Rock insists it was the result of years of underlying tension. “She starts it, I finish it, OK?” Rock declared during his special. “That’s what the f*** happened. Nobody’s picking on her. She started this s***.”

And as for the slap itself? Rock didn’t hold back on his feelings. “I got smacked at the fing Oscars by this motherf**,” he said, owning the moment with his trademark humor. He even lightened the mood with a nostalgic quip: “Did it hurt? It still hurts. I got ‘Summertime’ ringing in my ears,” referencing the classic theme from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

True to his comedic roots, Rock wasn’t wallowing in the slap. “I’m not a victim. I took that hit like Pacquiao,” he joked, showing no signs of being fazed. And in true Chris Rock style, he added a dig about the physical difference between him and Will. “Will Smith is significantly bigger than me,” he remarked. “We are not the same size, okay? Will Smith does movies with his shirt off. You’ve never seen me do a movie with my shirt off.”

In Rock’s version of events, Jada played a central role in sparking the tension, and he’s not pulling any punches in sharing his side of the story. While the world awaits Will and Jada’s perspective, Chris Rock continues to embrace the moment with humor and confidence.

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