Michael Blackson Says He And “50 Percent” Of Comics Are Not Over Will Smith Oscar Slap
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Michael Blackson is still not over Will Smith’s infamous 2022 Oscar Award incident. While speaking on on The Art of Dialogue in an episode published on Thursday (June 20), the 51-year-old discussed why he cannot get past Smith slapping Chris Rock.
The discussion was prompted when Blackson was asked his opinion on the Bad Boys: Ride Or Die action film, per Complex.
“I’m rocking with Chris Rock because I’m a comic. So I really haven’t got over the slap yet,” he explained. “So it’s not really pushing me to go to the movie theater to go and see this, because as soon as I see his face I’m just thinking about [the] slap.”
The Meet The Blacks actor continued by asserting he is not alone in his opinion, saying he can move forward only once Rock himself forgives Smith.
“Don’t get me wrong, we love Will Smith. He’s our guy and all of that stuff, but I think what happened there was, he probably just thought he was invincible, he could do whatever he wants, he’s Will F**king Smith” shared the comedian.
“Maybe when Chris Rock and him could make up, then I can be like, ‘Okay, if Chris forgive[s] him, then we all okay with it,’ but right now, 50 percent of us feel that way about the slap.”
The conversation continued with Blackson explaining, “Because of that, I looked at Smith as a bully. Chris Rock is a comedian we’re allowed freedom of speech, we’re allowed to say whatever we want [when] telling a joke on somebody.”
He continued, “That does not give you [the] right to go and hit them. You hit somebody when they hit you.”
Blackson is not the only public figure to recently speak on the controversial moment. Earlier this month, sports commentator Stephen A. Smith detailed his thoughts that Smith’s actions hindered progression and blocked accolades for Will Packer and Antoine Fuqua.
“I was thinking about Black folks everywhere, aspiring to be in this business… and something like that happens, and it was a blemish on all of us,” Smith argued. “Because I know how much white America reveres Will Smith. And they’re thinking along the lines of, in my mind, ‘hell, if he did that, what would the rest of us do?’ That’s what I was thinking when I said what I said Friday about being torn,” he said.
Smith himself has apologized multiple times for the intense moment while Rock has fired back in comedy sets. Watch Michael Blackson speak on The Art of Dialogue above.
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