Late-Night Hosts React To Will Smith “Hitch”-Slapping Chris Rock At Oscars – CB

Late evening present hosts have weighed in on the beautiful second when Will Smith smacked comic and Oscar presenter Chris Rock throughout the face on nationwide tv over a joke about Smith’s spouse Jada Pinkett Smith.

They appear to usually agree that Will Smith ought to have chosen a special solution to categorical his anger, however keep in mind, these are comedians, in fact they made a joke out of all the ordeal of their present opening monologues.

Jimmy Kimmel, host of Jimmy Kimmel Reside!, is the one individual among the many late-night gang who has hosted the Oscars — which he did in 2017 and 2018 — so he has first-hand data of what it’s like to guide one of many largest reveals on tv.

He spoke in regards to the expertise and the way the host first thought all the things was staged. “I used to be watching like most individuals, and I mentioned to my spouse “they did a very good job with that punch – it appeared so actual,” he mentioned. “And about three seconds later, we realized it was as a result of it was actual.”

And that’s when his response went from pleasure to concern.

“In a single beautiful second – the evening went from “Oscars – So What?” To “Oscars So WHAAAAAAT?!”

Many have in contrast final evening’s slap to a boxing match, and Kimmel added some perspective on that concept. “It was so surprising. The one factor I can actually examine it to is when Mike Tyson bit Holyfield’s ears.”

He additionally addressed the response inside Dolby Theatre.

“And- by the way in which nobody did something,” he mentioned. A complete room filled with people- Nobody lifted a finger. Spider-Man was there. Aquaman was there. Catwoman – all sitting on their fingers. Nobody helped Chris Rock.”

The Late Present host Stephen Colbert provided a phrase of recommendation for Smith. “If you happen to actually need to damage a comic, don’t snort! That hurts far more than a punch. I promise you.”

Late-night hosts evoked a number of of Smith’s motion pictures.

Kimmel known as the incident “the outdated Hitch slap.”

Is the slap the worst factor Smith has ever carried out? Colbert doesn’t agree with that. “That’s the worst factor Will Smith has ever carried out…Wait, forgot about Wild Wild West. I’m kidding the worst factor he’s ever carried out is Gemini Man,” he mentioned.

The Late Present host is assured that subsequent yr’s award present goes to look just like the Thunderdome. “So prepare for subsequent yr’s ninety fifth Academy award Oscar Slaptacular demise match. 5 nominees enter, one exits.”

And to high all of it off, there’s this video:

On #LSSC tonight: Will Smith had a trick up his sleeve throughout his #Oscars speech. pic.twitter.com/a0SLs2zyxk

— The Late Present (@colbertlateshow) March 29, 2022

On Late Night time With Seth Meyers, he had fellow tv host Amber Ruffin giving her private recap of the Academy Awards.

“I do know why they don’t have a class for finest horror film as a result of the perfect horror film is the Oscars,” she mentioned.

She talked about that she spoke along with her sister and the way her emotions within the second consumed her and hampered her Oscar viewing expertise.

“His [Smith] acceptance speech was 5 minutes and 25 seconds, and I didn’t breathe for 5 minutes and 25 seconds,” Ruffin remarked. “The Earth cracked open and I slipped by. I heard echoes of I’m sorry, however to not Chris Rock.”

The host completed off her recap by mentioning what she noticed when noticed on social media and the general public response. “I scrolled Twitter and I learn jokes and considering items and opinions about it and whereas I felt I had seen one thing horrible and personal that made me really feel nice disgrace, I came upon everybody in America felt the identical means I did. And that my pals is the magic of the Oscars!”

Like his colleagues, Jimmy Fallon opened The Tonight Present speaking in regards to the controversy earlier than taking a flip.

“After all I’ve to handle the large second everyone seems to be speaking about and that’s Questlove profitable the Oscar for Greatest Documentary!,” Fallon mentioned of the Tonight Present’s hose band, The Roots.

Questlove gained immediately after the incident that occurred on stage within the class offered by Rock. Many are saying his profitable second was marred by the controversy.

Fallon discovered a silver lining within the shock from the second Smith smacked Rock. “America could also be divided, nevertheless it was kinda good for all of us to return collectively and say ‘Holy Crap’ on the identical time.”

94th Academy is likely one of the strangest live-broadcasts to ever, and Fallon has a great purpose for believing this assertion is true. “It was a wierd award present when it ends with a press release from the LAPD.”