Jake Paul has mocked Will Smith by comparing his slap of basketball mascot Clutch to the film star's slap of comedian Chris Rock at the Oscar awards.
The YouTube star was pictured courtside at the NBA match between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Houston Rockets, after watching his brother Logan make his maiden WWE appearance at Wrestlemania 38. Paul landed a right hand to leave the bear 'knocked out' and facedown on court after being confronted by the Rockets' long-term mascot.
He documented the 'slap' on Instagram by mocking Will Smith, with the caption: "Will Smith’d em." Smith slapped Rock in the face after the funnyman made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head during the awards. The incident became arguably the most-highly documented incident in the awards' history.
Its story has now gripped the entertainment world for many days with many having criticised Smith for his actions, though Rock is not expected to press charges. Smith later issued an apology to Rock after his actions and decided to resign from the academy after facing backlash from his actions.
The incident left attendees of the ceremony shocked after Smith walked on stage and hit Rock when the comedian made a misjudged joke about Jada's hairstyle - the result of alopecia, a hair loss condition.
Rock was left speechless by the events that unfolded and tried to brush off the incident, responding: "Will Smith just smacked the s*** out of me." Smith was left visibly angered and upon returning to his seat angrily shouted: "Keep my wife's name out of your f****** mouth."
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With the audience suddenly become audibly anxious, Rock tamely replied: "Wow dude, it was a GI Jane joke." His actions were left condemned by the Academy which led to his resignation in the days that followed.
Paul appeared to replicate the incident when approached by the famous mascot who had large boxing gloves on to antagonise him. He hit the bear to which the crowd responded with a gasp as the mascot remained on the court for some time before being carried away.
The 25-year-old later took selfies with fans who also watched on and greeted several of the players from both sides after the match had finished. His profile has continued to rise in the celebrity world after being thrust into the limelight during his five professional victories in the boxing ring.
He is planning to make an imminent return to the ring in August with several opponents throwing themselves into the mix including Tommy Fury and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Paul himself has called for a UFC clash with Conor McGregor and has offered to donate his prize money to the promotion's lowest-paid fighters if he loses in a deal with the promotion's kingpin Dana White.
