Chris Rock says he's 'still processing' Will Smith slap during sold-out comedy show


Sophie Prideaux
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Chris Rock has spoken about the Will Smith slap for the first time, saying he is “still processing” what happened at the Oscars ceremony on Sunday night.

The comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s, alopecia-induced hair loss, causing the actor to storm on stage and slap Rock across the face, before screaming “keep my wife’s name out your [expletive] mouth” at Rock.

The incident has been dubbed as the most shocking moment to ever come from the Oscars, and Smith is currently facing disciplinary action from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

While Smith issued a public apology to Rock and the academy, Rock has kept quiet since the ceremony, although he did tell the Los Angeles Police Department that he did not want to press charges.

However, Rock has now addressed the slap for the first time, during his sold-out Ego Death comedy tour, which kicked off on Wednesday night in Boston.

People wait in line to enter the Wilbur Theatre for a sold-out performance by Chris Rock. AFP
People wait in line to enter the Wilbur Theatre for a sold-out performance by Chris Rock. AFP

Walking on stage to a standing ovation, Rock said: “So, how was your weekend?”

He then reportedly got upset, saying: “Let me be all misty … I don’t have a bunch ... to say about that, so if you came here for that … I had written a whole show before this weekend.

“I’m still processing what happened, so at some point I’ll talk about that. It’ll be serious. It’ll be funny, but right now, I’m going to tell some jokes.”

Later on in the set, he said: “I haven’t talked to anyone, despite what you heard.”

Rock’s comments come on the same day it was revealed that Smith was asked by the academy’s chief executive, Dawn Hudson, to leave the ceremony after the incident, but the actor refused.

Shortly afterwards, he was awarded the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in King Richard, in which he portrays the father of tennis ace sisters, Venus and Serena Williams.

Disciplinary proceedings are now under way against Smith for violating the academy’s code of conduct, including inappropriate physical contact, abusive or threatening behaviour, and compromising the integrity of the academy.

BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP

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Brazil
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Nigeria

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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
​​​​​​​Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

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Company profile

Date started: January, 2014

Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe

Based: Dubai

Sector: Education technology

Size: Five employees

Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.

Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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How Filipinos in the UAE invest

A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.

Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).

Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.

Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

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  1. Join parent networks
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Museum of the Future in numbers
  •  78 metres is the height of the museum
  •  30,000 square metres is its total area
  •  17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
  •  14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
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  •  7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
  •  2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
  •  100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
  •  Dh145 is the price of a ticket
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5

Price, base: Dh359,200

Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm

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The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

Updated: March 31, 2022, 7:26 AM`