Comedian Leslie Jones revealed in a recent interview with People that her close friend Chris Rock sought professional help following the infamous slapping incident with Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars. According to Jones, Rock was deeply affected by the public humiliation, especially in front of his family, and even attended therapy sessions with his adult daughters, Lola and Zahra.
Watching from home, Jones expressed extreme anger over the shocking moment. She suggested that Smith missed an opportunity for redemption during his acceptance speech for his Best Actor win, as he didn’t directly apologize to Rock. Smith did later issue an apology through social media and has since been banned from attending any Academy events for a decade, although he remains eligible for future nominations and kept his 2022 Oscar.
Rock took aim at Smith in his Netflix special, “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage,” questioning Smith’s motives and saying the situation was far more complicated than the public perceived.
Leslie Jones and Chris Rock share a friendship that dates back to the ’90s. Jones credits Rock for encouraging her to audition for Saturday Night Live and describes him as a brotherly figure who always provides sound advice.
In summary, Leslie Jones has confirmed that the Oscars altercation had a profound emotional impact on Chris Rock, who took to counselling to deal with the fallout. She criticizes Smith for his handling of the situation and suggests he should have made amends that night. Meanwhile, Rock has addressed the incident in his own way, through his stand-up routine
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