Will Smith 'Embarrassed And Hurt' Over Chis Rock's Verbal Jabs In 'Selective Outrage' Comedy Special

Leslie Jones Claims Chris Rock Needed 'Slap' Therapy: 'That S**t Was Humiliating'

Home / Top Stories / Leslie Jones Claims Chris Rock Needed 'Slap' Therapy: 'That S**t Was Humiliating'

By Favour Adegoke on September 19, 2023 at 10:45 AM EDT

Famous comedian Leslie Jones opened up on how the infamous Oscar slap affected Chris Rock almost two years after the exchange between the comedian and Will Smith. In Jones's statement, she revealed that Rock had to seek therapy along with his kids after the shocking incident.

Jones also defended the fellow comedian and criticized Smith for his actions. She and Rock have grown close over the years, and she said she was personally affected by the actor's reaction to the joke. 

Keep on reading to learn more.

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Leslie Jones Says Chris Rock Went For Therapy After Oscars Slap

FINCH - Los Angeles Premiere
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56-year-old Jones revealed that her friend, Rock, had to seek therapy following the infamous Oscar slap incident. The former "Saturday Night Live" star opened up on the topic in an interview with People magazine, where she noted that Rock had a hard time healing from the experience.

This comes a year and a half after Smith walked up the Oscar stage and slapped Rock across the face for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. According to Jones, the comedian felt "humiliated" and shocked by Smith's reaction as he meant no harm by his comment.

Following the incident, Rock went for counseling "with his daughters," Lola and Zahra, who he shares with ex-wife Malaak Compton-Rock. 

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Jones noted, "That s**t was humiliating. It really affected him. People need to understand his daughters, his parents, saw that."

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Leslie Jones Was Upset At Will Smith's Reaction To Chris Rock's Joke

Will Smith at 'Emancipation' UK film premiere
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Though she was not present for the Academy Awards that year, the "Our Flag Means Death" actress expressed her disappointment at Smith's reaction to the joke. Jones noted that the news "infuriated" and made her feel uncomfortable. 

She said, "You don't know that I was going to jump in my car and roll up there. I was so f***ing mad on so many levels."

Jones added that Smith was immature about Rock's comment since he didn't mean it negatively. She stated, "For a long a** time, I was just mad. Chris Rock did a f***ing joke." The comedian, who revealed how close she is to Rock, explained that the slap felt personal to her. 

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Rock has stood up for her in the past and even threw in her name for consideration for "SNL." He also helped Jones to put her new book together, which she plans to release on September 19th. She said of the "Grown Ups" actor, "He's just always there to give me the perfect advice when I need it."

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She Says Will Smith Could Have 'Fixed' Things

Will Smith at the Oscar Nominees Luncheon in Los Angeles
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Still furious about the turn of events after Rock's joke on the Oscar stage, Jones noted that Smith could've handled things better. She explained that the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" actor should have owned up to his mistakes and taken things more seriously.

Jones, who is also friends with Smith, recalled thinking to herself, "You couldn't handle that s**t afterwards. This is the Oscars. The whole world is watching." 

She added that if she were in Smith's position, she would have "fixed things" by calling out Rock to publicly apologize and refusing the Award for Best Actor, which he won that night.

Jones would've said, "'I shouldn't have did that. Bring Chris out. I can not accept the Oscar right now because that was f***ing wrong.'" 

Leslie Jones Jokes Chris Rock Should Have Run To Avoid The Slap

Chris Rock at FX Networks Star Walk Winter Press Tour 2020
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During her chat with People, the "Supermarket Sweep" actress noted that she would have taken cover after seeing Smith approach the stage. Jones recalled asking Rock why he stood still and waited for the actor to get to him.

She noted, "I was like, 'Chris, when he got up why didn't you run?' I would've been running around that stage like, 'Will, calm down. Jada, call your man!'"

Putting herself in the comedian's shoes, Jones explained that Rock was probably confused after Smith's reaction. She noted that it was hard enough to come on stage and do specials. The fellow comedian explained that comedy was an escape from the world, and no one deserved to be bullied for it. "Instead of us going crazy we f***ing go talk about it on the f***ing stage. Thank God we've got the stage."

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