BOSTON, Mass. — In just two days, comedian Chris Rock will appear in front of an audience in Boston, starting Wednesday. On Sunday, as he hosted the Oscars, Rock made a joke directed at Jada Pinkett Smith and her hair loss. That caused her husband, Will Smith, to jump on stage and physically slap Rock across the face on live TV.
“It’s a shame it got physical but I can understand the reflex,” said Shannon Olin from Jamaica Plain.
In 24 hours it’s been viewed millions of times on social media. Smith even referenced it when he won the Oscar
“Love will make you do crazy things,” said Will Smith as he accepted his Oscar for the film ‘King Richard’.
But after having more time to gather his thoughts, Smith issued an apology on his Instagram account Monday night saying in part:
“Jokes at my expense are part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much to bear and I reacted emotionally. I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. "
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It all started with a joke by Chris Rock about Jada Pinkett Smith alluding to her alopecia condition and a possible movie role playing G.I. Jane.
You can see her cringe. Alopecia is a condition that causes baldness in thousands of Americans.
“Chris Rock kind of got what was coming to him. He made a joke that was inappropriate,” said Josiah Bufford of Boston.
There has been talk Smith should be penalized, possibly even losing back his Oscar. The Academy of Motion Pictures is investigating. But no one who spoke with Boston 25 thinks that should happen.
“He won it already so it’s like take it away and he’s still the best actor,” said Bufford.
Smith also apologized to the Academy. It’s not clear if that will have any bearing on a possible penalty.
In the meantime, all six of Chris Rock’s shows here are sold out.
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