Chris Rock Will Address Will Smith’s Oscars Slap in Upcoming Live Netflix Special

In what may be the most anticipated comedy special in Netflix history, comedian Chris Rock WILL discuss the controversial face slap he received from Oscar winner Will Smith at the Academy Awards last year.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the comedian, who will be filming a live set this weekend, is bringing up the infamous Oscars slap when he hits the stage on Saturday, March 4.

He will appear live on Netflix, the first time this is being done on the streaming platform. The show, “Selective Outrage,” will air on the streaming platform at 6:30 p.m. PT/9:30 p.m. ET from The Comedy Store.

It’s #ChrisRockLive week and we’re pulling out all the stops!

Livestream from @TheComedyStore starts at 6:30pm with a pre-show hosted by @RonnyChieng and many more surprise guests, right before @ChrisRock takes the stage! pic.twitter.com/787FZT3Mzd

— Netflix Is A Joke (@NetflixIsAJoke) February 27, 2023

The Brooklyn-born comic has addressed the controversy in bits and pieces while on tour this past year.

According to CNN, Rock recently tested some of the material at a show in January when he was on the same bill as Dave Chappelle in Charleston, S.C. A source tells the media outlet that he referenced Smith’s size compared to his. He even threw in a joke using the title of one of his most popular songs, Summertime.

“The thing people wanna know, did it hurt? Hell yeah, it hurt! He played Muhammad Ali! I played Pookie (in New Jack City). Even in animated movies, I’m a zebra; he’s a f—ing shark. I got hit so hard, I heard ‘Summertime’ ringing in my ears.”

The upcoming special takes place five years after Rock’s first Netflix comedy special, Chris Rock: Tamborine, was released in February 2018.

This will be Rock’s first nationally televised event since the assault in front of a live audience by Smith in defense of his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.