Following the infamous slap at the 2022 Academy Awards where Will Smith assaulted Chris Rock, speculation about the aftermath continues to circulate. Recently, a false claim has gained traction on social media, asserting that Chris Rock won a $40 million lawsuit against Will Smith as a result of the Oscars incident. This article aims to clarify the truth and debunk this misleading rumor.
The claim of a multimillion-dollar lawsuit settlement between Chris Rock and Will Smith is entirely unfounded. Despite the widespread online chatter, there is no evidence to support the existence of any lawsuit filed by Rock against Smith. Furthermore, no credible news outlets have reported on such legal proceedings or a settlement. The absence of any official confirmation or reputable media coverage strongly indicates that this rumor is false.
While the $40 million figure is mentioned in connection to Chris Rock, it is crucial to understand that this amount is related to a completely separate matter: his Netflix comedy specials. Years before the Oscars slap, in 2016, Chris Rock secured a landmark deal with Netflix for two stand-up specials, reportedly worth $40 million. This information, originally reported by The Hollywood Reporter citing unnamed sources, has been publicly available for years and predates the Oscars incident by six years. It is this pre-existing Netflix deal, not a lawsuit settlement, that accounts for the $40 million figure associated with Chris Rock.
Chris Rock himself addressed the Oscars slap in his 2023 Netflix stand-up special, “Selective Outrage,” a special that was part of the aforementioned Netflix deal. In his comedic set, Rock acknowledged the incident, referring to Smith as “Suge Smith” and humorously recounting the experience. He made it clear that the slap “still hurts” but firmly stated, “I’m not a victim, baby,” and dismissed any notion of seeking sympathy or public emotional displays regarding the event. His comedic response, while addressing the gravity of the situation, did not hint at any legal action or financial settlement.
In the immediate aftermath of the Oscars slap, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed that they were aware of the incident. However, they also stated that Chris Rock declined to file a police report. According to Variety, the LAPD indicated their willingness to create an investigative report should Rock decide to file a report at a later date. Rock’s decision not to involve law enforcement further undermines the narrative of a subsequent lawsuit and settlement.
Adding to the evidence against the lawsuit rumor, Page Six, a gossip news site, reported in March 2022, citing unnamed sources, that Chris Rock was “isn’t even thinking of suing” Will Smith over the Oscars slap. This report, published shortly after the incident, suggests that legal action was not even under consideration by Rock at the time.
Furthermore, Will Smith publicly apologized to Chris Rock in a video posted online in July 2022. In his apology, Smith stated that he had reached out to Rock, but Rock was “not ready to talk.” Smith directly apologized to Rock, acknowledging his behavior as “unacceptable.” This public apology, while significant, does not indicate any legal settlement or lawsuit but rather highlights the personal and interpersonal nature of the conflict and its aftermath.
In conclusion, the claim that Chris Rock won a $40 million lawsuit against Will Smith is demonstrably false. The $40 million figure is attributed to Rock’s Netflix comedy special deal predating the Oscars incident. There is no credible evidence of a lawsuit, and reports from reputable sources and Chris Rock’s own public statements contradict this rumor. The narrative of a lawsuit and settlement appears to be a misinterpretation or fabrication, likely fueled by ongoing public interest in the Oscars slap incident.
Sources
“Chris Rock Finally Talks Will Smith Oscars Slap in Comedy Special.” EW.Com, https://ew.com/tv/chris-rock-will-smith-live-special-selective-outrage/. Accessed 14 Aug. 2024.
Goldberg, Lesley. “Chris Rock Sets Comedian Record With $40M for Two Netflix Specials.” The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Oct. 2016, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/chris-rock-sets-netflix-stand-938106/. Accessed 14 Aug. 2024.
Goodman, Stephanie. “How the Slap Has Changed the Oscars.” The New York Times, 12 Mar. 2023. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/12/movies/oscars-slap-will-smith-chris-rock.html. Accessed 14 Aug. 2024.
Lee, Benjamin. “Will Smith Posts Emotional Apology for the Slap: ‘I Am Deeply Remorseful.'” The Guardian, 29 July 2022. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/07/29/will-smith-slap-apology-video. Accessed 14 Aug. 2024.
Sharf, Zack. “Chris Rock Declines to File Police Report After Will Smith Slap at Oscars, LAPD Says.” Variety, 28 Mar. 2022, https://variety.com/2022/film/news/chris-rock-police-report-will-smith-slap-oscars-1235216542/. Accessed 14 Aug. 2024.
Smith, Emily. “Exclusive | Chris Rock “isn’t Even Thinking of Suing” Will Smith over Oscars Slap.” Page Six, 30 Mar. 2022, https://pagesix.com/2022/03/30/chris-rock-isnt-even-thinking-of-suing-will-smith-over-oscars-slap/. Accessed 14 Aug. 2024.
