Jerry Seinfeld revealed on a recent podcast that he had initially wanted Chris Rock to parody the infamous Will Smith slap incident at the 2022 Oscars in his Netflix movie Unfrosted. Seinfeld had planned to cast Rock as the host of the Bowl & Spoon Awards, a role that eventually went to Cedric the Entertainer. The scene was supposed to involve Rock punching out a character on stage, mimicking the Will Smith altercation. However, Rock was not comfortable performing the parody due to the lingering impact of the real-life incident.
Seinfeld expressed gratitude that Cedric the Entertainer took on the role, as he wasn't sure if the scene would have worked with Rock. Unfrosted is a fictionalized account of the creation of Pop-Tarts, with Kellogg's and Post depicted as rival cereal companies vying to invent the iconic pastry. While the movie takes creative liberties with the story, it features a star-studded cast including Melissa McCarthy, Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan, and Hugh Grant.
The 2022 Oscars saw Will Smith shocking the audience by slapping Chris Rock on stage after a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith's outburst led to his subsequent apology and resignation from the Academy, resulting in a 10-year ban from Film Academy events. Despite the ban, Smith retains his Best Actor Oscar for his role in 'King Richard.'
Chris Rock addressed the slap in his Netflix comedy special 'Selective Outrage,' acknowledging the lasting impact it had on him. Leslie Jones later revealed that Rock sought counseling with his daughters following the incident.
