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At the 94th Academy Awards celebrated the hard work of Hollywood’s artists but unfortunately, the event will always be remembered as the night when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock. The entire Slapgate controversy became a shadowy cloud over the 2022 Oscars and no one has forgotten it to this day. A few months ago, comedy genre connoisseur Adam Sandler joined Joe Rogan for his podcast and guess what they talked about among other things?
Will Smith’s apology video for Chris Rock | Credits: Will Smith / YouTubeNeedless to say, the slap’s echo is not leaving the entertainment industry anytime soon but hey, at least it was the best thing that happened to Chris Rock, right? Well, that’s what Joe Rogan believes!
Joe Rogan believes Will Smith’s slap was the best thing for Chris Rock
A still from The Joe Rogan Experience #2187 | Credits: PowerfulJRE / YouTubeKnown for his controversial views, Joe Rogan once again did not disappoint when he made this statement. But this time, he has a pretty solid reason to make the claim. While some may call Will Smith‘s hot-headed move a portrayal of love for Jada Pinkett Smith, the majority branded him the night’s villain.
As for Chris Rock, he took his time to get over the ordeal and Rogan believes his comeback was epic. The host chatted with Adam Sandler on The Joe Rogan Experience about Rock’s live show, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, which, Sandler “loved.”
Rogan stated that the slap helped Rock become wild again. In his words,
It was like was the best thing that ever happened to him because then he became wild again. It was outrageous; it was like the Rock of old.
As for Smith, he ended up getting the short end of the stick, as per Rogan. While the controversy only made Rock better, the Bad Boys actor “went to a place that he couldn’t get out” and “he’s still there.”
Rogan rightly pointed out that despite having films like I Am Legend and Ali to his name, people now only think of him as the guy who slapped Rock on the Oscars stage.
How the night became a wakeup call for Chris Rock
Chris Rock in a still from his special, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage (2023) | Credits: NetflixAfter you get humiliated on such a huge platform and no one steps in to help, it puts things in a perspective. While Rock’s joke on Smith’s wife was a little insensitive, the reaction was exponentially greater.
Smith was able to walk on the stage in front of thousands of people and casually smack Rock like it was the most normal thing in the world. Then, he went and sat back down like nothing happened, won an award, got a standing ovation, and the night continued.
This, Rogan believes, was probably a wake-up call for Rock.
I think for him it was also a wakeup call like, ‘Hey, these motherf*ckers don’t really care about me. They didn’t protect me. Nobody stopped it. He went back and sat down, and then got an award afterwards and got a standing ovation.’
In the end, the infamous slap will will remain etched in Hollywood history as a moment of chaos and reflection. While it tarnished Smith’s reputation to an extent, Rogan’s perspective highlights how it also boosted Rock’s career.
Chris Rock: Selective Outrage is available to watch on Netflix.
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