Amy Schumer opened up some more about the “shocking” Oscars incident that had everyone talking days after the ceremony when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock during the live telecast.
Following the onstage smack, Smith remained in his seat for the rest of the show, including his time to go back up to the stage and claim the award for Best Actor. Many people felt the Academy handled the situation poorly by not having Smith removed from the venue after the incident.
Schumer said that Chris Rock is a good friend, and while she’s texted with him a bit since the incident, she doesn’t need to advise him on what to do as far as his comedy goes because he’s such a professional.
Schumer gives thoughts on ‘upsetting’ Oscars incident
Following the headline-making Oscars incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock, Academy Awards co-host Amy Schumer called the slap a “bummer” during her standup act at Las Vegas’ Mirage Theater for the Aces of Comedy series.
“All I can say is that it was really just sad. It says so much about race, about toxic masculinity, it’s just, everything. It was just really upsetting,” she told the crowd.
While appearing on Wednesday’s episode of The Howard Stern Show, the 40-year-old had some more to say about the incident, which she again referred to as a “bummer” and “shocking.”
“I don’t know what I would’ve done if the power were in my hands,” Schumer told Stern, mentioning that not only is Rock one of her best friends, but she always held Will Smith in high regard too.
“People made fun of me for saying that it was traumatizing, but I don’t think it was traumatizing for me. I think it was traumatizing for all of us,” she said.
“To see your friend get hit, and also Will Smith, who we’ve all loved forever. I don’t remember a time I didn’t think, ‘I love that guy,’ and you know I haven’t been around much violence…so, it was upsetting for so many reasons.”
Soon after the incident occurred on the live Oscars telecast, Amy Schumer tried to lighten the mood while appearing for a segment in the crowd.
“Ugh, I’ve been getting out of that Spider-Man costume. Did I miss anything?” she joked, continuing, “There’s like a different vibe in here.”
During her time talking to Howard Stern Wednesday, Schumer said she saw Chris Rock right after the incident, and they’ve texted a little bit since then.
Schumer says Rock doesn’t need her help with material
Following the Oscars, news hit that ticket prices for Rock’s Ego Death World Tour shows had surged in price, giving proof that many fans were interested in what the comedy legend would have to say. However, he remained mostly tight-lipped about the incident, only touching upon it briefly at several of his shows.
More recently, he commented, “not until I get paid,” when discussing the incident at one of his shows.
When it comes to Chris Rock’s approach to his standup act and including discussion of the Oscars incident, Schumer told Howard Stern that Rock doesn’t need her guidance on what to do.
“He knows what he’s doing,” Schumer said. “I just have a bad poker face, and I need to share what’s on my mind in like a compulsive way, but I think he’s really smart. He’s not really addressing it. He’s a pro. A sweetheart.”
In addition to his series of Ego Death World Tour shows, Rock is scheduled to headline several shows this summer alongside fellow comedian Kevin Hart. One has to wonder if Hart plans to talk about the incident in his routine or if both of them will stick to other topics during their time on stage.
How is Chris? So much focus on Will (the WRONG person). Is Chris ok? I know, I know it was “only” a slap. But that was the slap heard around the world. I could care less about Will….Jada… Can we get a well check?