Kenan Thompson Talks Oscars Slap Ahead Of 2022 Emmys
Kenan Thompson is hosting the 2022 Emmys and is weighing in on his expectations for the show amid the 2022 Oscars slap controversy.
Speaking at an Emmy preview event in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Sept. 7), Thompson weighed in on the infamous Oscars slap that involved host Chris Rock and Will Smith, who also won an Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in King Richard at the 94th Academy Awards.
“I think a good comic is supposed to be aware,” Thompson said, according to Deadline. “I mean I’m not calling Chris a bad comic, he just wasn’t necessarily aware of that situation, so it’s not fair to lump him into that conversation.”
Adding, “But overall those kind of roast-y kind of people, you have to be smart, because you know, there’s a way to jab at people without offending, like for real for real. I don’t think offense necessarily gets us anywhere as a society.”
During the Oscars, and just before presenting the award for the documentary feature category, Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, saying, “Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.” Rock’s joke was regarding Jada’s close-shaved head, a possible result of her recent struggles with the hair condition alopecia.
G.I. Jane was a 1997 film starring Demi Moore, who played a character that shaved her hair off during a vigorous U.S. Navy program. The popular film tackled sexism in the military.
After the joke, Smith walked on stage and slapped Rock. He returned to his seat and shouted at the comedian, “keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.” Later in the show, Smith won the Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ father, Richard Williams, in King Richard.
Chris Rock recently declined an offer to host the 2023 Academy Awards in light of the slapping incident. The Academy banned Smith from the Oscars for a decade over the incident.
