Comedians Rally Behind Chris Rock Post Will Smith Oscar Slap: No Laughing Matter

Chris Rock could have done a lot of things at the 94th Annual Academy Awards, but all he chose was to behave gracefully and do his job as a presenter.

When Rock cracked a joke on Jada Pinkett-Smith's "short haircut" and likened her to G.I. Jane, he had no clue that Will Smith would take offense to it and come striding onstage to sock him one. Smith also yelled at him, twice, using profanities, "keep my wife's name out of your f---ing mouth."

But this is how the Academy Awards of 2022 would forever be remembered, and it's a sad day for comedians all around, many of whom are rallying behind Rock and decrying Smith's behavior.

Tim Allen, the "Home Improvement" guy, shot straight through the hips, tweeting, "It’s not ok to come up on stage and hit a dude cause you don’t like the humor. It’s not ok at a Comedy Club, concert hall, or hosting some cheeseball award show. Chris Rock is a stand-up comedian and a standup guy who carried on. I think I would have run."

Fans had plenty of opinions to offer:

Meanwhile, outside the Hollywood Laugh Factory on Monday night, the club’s sign read: “Laugh Factory supports First Amendment Right for all comedians. The comedy community loves and supports you Chris.”

Jim Carrey appeared on CBS Mornings with Gayle King and minced no words. He stated that he was "sickened" by the standing ovation that Will Smith received and said that it proved that we, as in Hollywood, weren't the cool club anymore. And unlike Rock, he would not have just taken in, quietly.

I’d have announced this morning that I was suing Will for 200 million dollars, because that video is going to be there forever. It’s going to be ubiquitous. That insult is going to last a very long time. If you want to yell from the audience or disapprove or show disapproval, or say something on Twitter or whatever. You do not have the right to walk up on stage and smack somebody in the face because they said words.

Legendary comedian George Wallace is also of a similar opinion and feels that Chris Rock should sue Will Smith for the Oscar slap. He feels it will be a stain on Rock professionally going forward.

James Corden was also very clear about being with Rock on the issue as he said, "The whole incident threw me off in a huge way. It also completely ruined my chances in the Oscar pool. I had Dame Judi Dench smacking Woody Harrelson. Seriously, though, I applaud Chris Rock for recovering, keeping the show moving. It was an incredibly dignified response. I'll say this: Will Smith can't take a joke. Chris Rock can take a punch."

Wanda Sykes felt awful as well and stuck with Chris.

Kevin Hart, touring with Rock, remained cryptic.

While Adam Sandler didn't use words much, his show of love towards Rock, came just at the right time.

As is Rob Schneider.

And David Spade.

That said; it seems Salma Hayek has jumped ship.

Can't win them all, right. But Rock does have the Alec Baldwin vote.

One Instagram user's comment summed it up perfectly: "the worst moment for me, was Chris looking off stage and clearly wondering when they were going to intervene or stop the show, but they didn’t. Instead, he was expected to present an award as though he hadn’t just been physically assaulted."