In his no-holds-barred rant about the incident, the comedian called Smith a barrage of names and said that his action was a “deep, dark thing to do in front of all those people.”
Rob Scheider also slammed the Academy Awards showrunners for not immediately punishing Will Smith, claiming that they feared they would be seen as “racist.”
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Rob Schneider Says Will Smith’s Oscars Slap Was ‘A Deep, Dark Thing To Do’ In The Public
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During his appearance on “The Kyle & Jackie O Show,” Schneider held nothing back while giving his opinion about Smith’s shocking act of slapping Rock at the 2022 Oscars.
The slap occurred after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett, who has alopecia, a medical condition resulting in hair loss.
Schneider told listeners that the “Bad Boys” actor was a “tw-t” and an “a–hole,” adding that the incident made it clear to the world that Smith was not the nice guy he had portrayed himself to be.
Schneider also delivered more scathing remarks about the Hollywood star, claiming that he is a “liar” and a “complete, utter fraud.”
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Speaking further, the 60-year-old admonished the actor for not caring that it was all in public and that his victim was someone who had helped pave the way for others before him.
Schneider said: “It’s a deep, dark thing to do that in front of all those people and to a really great legendary comedian, who’s literally the best comedian of our generation. You wouldn’t have this whole wave of comedy that came after if it wasn’t for Chris Rock. He’s kicked open the doors.”
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The Comedian Slammed The Oscar Committee For Taking Too Long To Punish Will Smith
Regarding why Schneider was just now sharing his opinion on the topic, the comedian revealed that he couldn’t do so earlier due to a “sticky situation” at the time of the incident.
He also criticized the Oscar committee for taking too long to punish Smith, a punishment that ultimately resulted in a 10-year ban from future award ceremonies.
To Schneider, the committee was acting “politically correct” and “cowardly,” adding that if he had acted the way Smith did, he would have been “hauled off to prison.”
Schneider also mentioned that they were really “worried” about being seen as racist, claiming that this was why they delayed punishing the actor.
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He continued, “The point is, violence is what it is. And whether the color of your skin or your religion, it doesn’t matter if you commit a crime in front of other people, you get hauled out of there.”
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Rob Schneider On Why Chris Rock Delayed His Reaction To The Slap Incident
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Rock took a long time to react to the incident, shunning making any real statements when asked about it.
The actor and comedian eventually did so in his Netflix comedy special, titled “Selective Outrage,” characterizing Smith as a coward who may have lashed out due to his own marriage problems.
Schneider noted that he was not surprised Rock took long to react to the incident and that the “Death at a Funeral” star’s choice to do so was a genius move.
“I don’t blame him…. He’s a very sensitive, great guy, and he’s literally a genius,” he dished, per the New York Post. “So, just trying to figure out the right way at the right timing, it was him because I would have said something. I’m an idiot. I would have … tried to kick back.”
Will Smith Apologized For The Oscars Slap
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Meanwhile, Smith released a statement apologizing for his actions within days of the incident.
He said, “My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home.
He added, “I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken.”
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Will Smith’s Career Has Enjoyed A Resurgence With New ‘Bad Boys’ Film
The actor suffered career-wise as a result of the act, as several studios paused productions that he ought to feature in.
However, it appears that the actor’s career has enjoyed a resurgence following the release of a new installment of his “Bad Boys” franchise, in which he co-stars with Martin Lawrence.
The film is already receiving rave views and is predicted to pull big numbers at the box office.