Chris Rock: Will Smith public apology was ‘a hostage video’

Chris Rock has described Will Smith’s attempts to apologise for slapping him at the Oscars as a “hostage video”.

Speaking at the latest of his joint gigs with fellow comic Dave Chappelle, Rock referred to Smith’s July YouTube post offering contrition for his attack.

“Fuck your hostage video,” said Rock, who also referred to the actor as “Suge Smith” – a comparison to the notorious, currently imprisoned Death Row Records executive Suge Knight.

Rock told the audience at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool that Smith had impersonated “a perfect man for 30 years” before revealing he was “just as ugly as the rest of us”.

This marks the first time Rock has spoken out about Smith at any length on or off stage.

Chappelle asked Rock: “Did that shit hurt?” Rock replied: “Goddam right … the motherfucker hit me over a bullshit joke – the nicest joke I ever told.”

Rock’s joke at the Oscars involved comparing Smith’s shaven-haired wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, to GI Jane; it remains unclear whether Rock was unaware of Pinkett Smith’s alopecia diagnosis.