It’s been over three days since Will Smith rocked headlines for slapping Chris Rock at the 94th annual Academy Awards, but the incident is still very much the week’s hottest topic.
From social media commenters to newscasters, writers, and celebrities (in attendance or otherwise), lips are moving about the ordeal and don’t show any signs of slowing soon.
Among the more news-grabbing responses to the shocking occurrence come from two of its three hosts: Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes.
Look inside to see how they (sans Regina Hall) separately weighed in on the slap heard around the world.
Breaking her silence on Wednesday’s episode of ‘Ellen’ (March 30), Sykes reflected on the Oscars moment that’s had the whole world talking.
As seen in the video, Wanda says she was stunned by the incident and couldn’t believe it was happening.
“We had just introduced Chris … so I ran to my trailer to watch him … and when I got to the monitor backstage, I just saw Will leaving the stage, and everything was quiet. And I was like, ‘What happened, what happened,” she said before later adding, “I just felt so awful for my friend Chris. It was sickening. I physically felt ill and I’m still a little traumatized by it.”
In addition to reprimanding the Academy for letting Will stay in the building after the assault, Wanda made it clear that she felt the trio of hostesses were owed as much of an apology as Chris.
“I know he apologized to Chris, but, I believe that we were the hosts, right? So we were, this is our house, we’re inviting you in, we’re hosts, we’re gonna take care of y’all tonight and make sure you have a good time,” she explained. “And no one has apologized to us and we worked really hard to put that show together. So just the industry itself, I’m like, ‘What the hell is this?’ It’s just wrong.”
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Her sentiment echoes that of co-host Amy Schumer who took to social media earlier in the day to reflect on the ‘sickening’ showing. In a now-deleted Instagram post, Schumer described her reaction to the news of the attack.
“Still triggered and traumatized,” she stated. “I love my friend @chrisrock and believe he handled it like a pro. Stayed up there and gave an Oscar to his friend @questlove and the whole thing was so disturbing.”
Later in the post she added:
“So much pain in @willsmith, anyway I’m still in shock and stunned and sad. I’m proud of myself and my cohosts Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes. But yeah. Waiting for this sickening feeling to go away from what we all witnessed.”
Yeah Will was outta line but they are acting like overdramatic Karen’s
And will wasn’t acting like an overdramatic reality show ratchet housewife?
Did I not just say Will was out of line? Gworl bye! There was nothing traumatizing about seeing a man get slapped.
Ok, next time you get slapped report back & let us know how you feel. Stfu.
Neither Wanda Sykes or Amy Schumer got slapped so again how are they traumatized? What is your dumb ass even talking about. GWORL BYE!
People need to seriously use their words wisely the whole thing was simply “shocking” at best because nobody would’ve expected that from Will. The whole “ traumatizing “ is such a reach like if that’s the case can’t imagine how it be for ya in serious life threatening situations.
I don’t know what are y’all talking. Diva is getting d I c k slaps everyday 💅🏾 And I’m lovin’ it💯
Expected this kind of stupid speech from Amy but definitely not from Wanda. If it was ‘your house’ and then one of your female guests got disrespected like that and you did nothing, this mess is on you too, ma’am, so maybe you and the Academy need to apologize for allowing Chris Rock to harrass Jada a second time instead of distancing yourself from it. 💅🏻
More dramatics…. It was hardly harrassment. It was a light joke. Wills issues are much deeper than a GI Jane joke. This whole fiasco is giving too much. Will had no right to assault someone.
Amy shouldn’t have deleted her post, she was right and so is Wanda. That overrated tool will smith let his wife Jada punked him on national television, so he had to put on a show for her to save face. And of course ignorant negroes across the country are applauding the simp, who initially laughed at the joke himself harder than anyone else until his master Jada yanked on his invisible leash. i hope the academy takes away his oscar that he shucked and jived for over the last 25 years, just to p*** black people off.
I’m team slap a n****. Chris has had this one coming
No surprise there with your ghetto ass holding the black community back
F*** you and this “Black community” that you speak of. We aren’t a monolith and if you had even a half of a brain cell you’d know that.
Instead you’re here, stalking my comments like a true Stan should. B**** get the F U C K off my d*** before I bop that ass like Will did Chris.🖕 This is your final warning
You keep proving yourself to be a monolith – a typical ghetto woman-beating black man.
Apparently in Smith’s book he talked about being traumatized/triggered by seeing his father abuse his mom and people are using that as an excuse for Will’s b****-ass, coward behavior (because let’s be honest Will wouldn’t have tried that with anybody else). I think that’s a weak excuse, but I’ll go with it. Then wouldn’t it be traumatizing/triggering for people at the Oscars who also experienced/witnessed abuse? We don’t know these people’s histories besides what they share and if they say they were traumatized then I say give them the benefit of a doubt.
I just read Chris Rock has a history of being bullying as a kid and almost killed a bully with a brick, thus being traumatized and having to work on his rage issues. He was most likely triggered and traumatized for getting b**** slapped in front of the world and seeing it replayed ad nauseum. And Wanda Sykes is one ofvChris’ best friends, so of course you would be traumatized seeing them assaulted in front of the world.
Now they’re saying Will Smith refused to leave his seat after the slap. This is about his ego and being emasculated by having his open marriage played out in front of the world and Jada not protecting him from the fallout. If this was really about protecting her honor then Will would have at least mentioned her once in his acceptance speech. He’s a narcissistic and should have his Oscar revoked at the very minimum.
Now matter how you try to dice it WILL WAS wrong! A joke doesn’t warrant assault. I see a lot of grown ups having some GROWING UP TO DO. Stop coddling Will Smith. He should be disciplined.
PREACH.