Chris Rock has joked about the infamous slap by Will Smith at the Oscars after the star posted an apology video.
Rock had made a joke at Smith’s wife’s expense, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, while presenting the ceremony in March, before being slapped by the Men in Black star.
On Friday, Smith publicly apologised in an Instagram video for the slap, which was broadcast to millions around the world.
While Rock did not mention it directly, he joked about it, according to CNN, telling an audience in Atlanta on Friday: “If everybody claims to be a victim, then nobody will hear the real victims.
“Even me getting smacked by Suge Smith ... I went to work the next day, I got kids.”
He later told the show: “Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face.”
The comedian has avoided directly commenting on the incident, which saw Smith barred from the Oscars for ten years.
In a five-minute video, Smith spoke directly about the incident and answered questions about the slap on March 27.
Asked why he did not apologise to Rock during his best actor acceptance speech for King Richard that came minutes later, Smith said: “I was fogged out by that point. It’s all fuzzy.
“I have reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he is not ready to talk and when he is he will reach out.
“So I will say to you Chris, I apologise to you. My behaviour was unacceptable and I am here whenever you are ready to talk.”
Asked whether his wife had prompted his decision to storm the stage and slap Rock, Smith replied: “No, I made a choice on my own, from my own experience and my history with Chris.”
He also addressed his wife directly, apologising for the impact on the family, saying: “I’m sorry babe, and I want to say sorry to my kids and my family for the heat that I brought on all of us.”
