Chris Rock’s Post-Oscars Therapy: Leslie Jones Reveals the Impact of Will Smith’s Slap

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Iconic comedian Chris Rock has two daughters, Lola Simone Rock and Zahra Savannah Rock, whom he co-parents with his former spouse, Malaak Compton-Rock. Rock and Compton-Rock separated in 2014, and their divorce was officially concluded two years later.

Leslie Jones Reveals Chris Rock’s Post-Oscars Therapy

Leslie Jones has now revealed that her friend Chris Rock pursued therapy following the incident where Will Smith slapped him at the 2022 Oscars. According to Jones, the incident was humiliating for Rock and had a profound impact on him.

During an interview with People, Jones expressed her concern for Rock’s well-being after the incident. She emphasized the emotional toll it took on Rock, as his daughters and parents witnessed the altercation. In order to cope with the situation and support his daughters, Rock sought counseling.

Rock’s two daughters, Lola and Zahra, are now young adults at 21 and 19 years old, respectively. The incident at the Oscars was a public humiliation for Rock, and Jones shared her personal outrage upon witnessing it unfold on live TV.

Jones also reflected on how she would have handled the situation differently, suggesting that Rock should have escaped the stage for his own safety. She jokingly mentioned that she would have intervened, telling Will Smith to calm down and urging Jada Pinkett Smith to rein in her husband.

The Controversial Joke about Jada Pinkett Smith

The shocking incident at the March 2022 Oscars occurred when Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith while presenting the Best Documentary Feature award. Rock humorously implied that Pinkett Smith was preparing for a sequel to ‘GI Jane’, alluding to her shaved head due to alopecia.

Will Smith, responding to the joke, took the stage and physically struck Rock. His furious outburst included shouting, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f**king mouth!” The incident left the audience in shock, and it quickly became a controversial moment.

The day after the incident, Smith publicly apologized to Rock through an Instagram post. Recognizing the inappropriateness of his behavior, Smith expressed regret and admitted that his actions were not justified in any way. He later issued a second apology video in July 2022 to further address the incident.

Smith’s reaction to the joke resulted in severe consequences. He resigned from the Academy and received a 10-year ban from participating in Academy events. However, Smith remains eligible for future Oscar nominations and keeps the Oscar he received for Best Actor at the 2022 ceremony.

Jones talked about the missed opportunity for Smith to address the situation during his acceptance speech. She suggested that Smith could have acknowledged his mistake, invited Chris Rock on stage, and declined to accept the Oscar at that moment. This, according to Jones, would have been a powerful gesture of reconciliation and recognition of the wrong that occurred.

Conclusion

The incident involving Will Smith’s slap towards Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars had a lasting impact, leading Rock to seek therapy for himself and his daughters. Leslie Jones, a close friend of Rock, provided insights into the emotional toll it took on him and how the incident could have been handled differently by Smith.

The controversy surrounding the incident is a reminder of the personal and public consequences that can arise from ill-conceived statements and reactions in high-stakes events like the Oscars. While the incident sparked outrage and debate, it also highlighted the importance of empathy and accountability in maintaining professionalism in the entertainment industry.

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