However, the bombshells don’t stop there. It seems that when Chris Rock caught wind of the rumors about Jada’s separation from Will Smith, he decided to make a move, which, as it turned out, did not go as planned. This initial awkward encounter was just a prelude to the infamous ‘Oscars slap’ incident that would occur in 2022.
Jada Pinkett Smith, now 52, made this surprising disclosure about her marriage while promoting her forthcoming memoir, “Worthy,” scheduled for release on October 17. Although she briefly mentioned the awkward encounter with Chris Rock in her book, she took the time to explain the whole incident in an interview with People magazine.
This cringe-worthy episode transpired back in 2016 when rumors were swirling that she and Will were heading for a divorce, a situation that has now been confirmed. While Jada chose to largely ignore these speculations, Chris Rock had a different approach and decided to make a rather ill-timed phone call.
Jada recounted the incident, saying, “I think every summer all the reports would come out that me and Will were getting a divorce. And this particular summer, Chris, he thought that we were getting a divorce.” She further explained that Chris called her and, in a somewhat awkward manner, expressed his interest in taking her out. To this, Jada responded with bewilderment, asking what he meant. Chris responded, “Well, aren’t you and Will getting a divorce?” Jada clarified that these were just rumors.
Remarkably, Chris Rock didn’t simply hang up the phone but, instead, began to profusely apologize, clearly embarrassed by the mix-up. This awkward exchange, however, wasn’t the final encounter between Jada and Chris.
Their interactions had already been marked by tension in the background. Jada had previously called for a boycott of the 2016 Oscars due to the absence of actors of color among the nominees. That year, Will Smith had also been snubbed, despite his notable performance in the critically acclaimed drama, “Concussion.” Chris Rock, despite the #OscarsSoWhite movement, remained the host and even incorporated jokes about Jada into his Netflix comedy special in subsequent years.
With this unresolved tension lingering, the stage was set for the infamous Oscars slap incident that would become a viral sensation in 2022. After enduring several jokes aimed at his wife, particularly regarding her alopecia, Will Smith shouted down Chris Rock and ultimately physically confronted the host on stage, right before a global audience.
According to Jada, she and Chris Rock have not spoken since that notorious night, which culminated in her husband being banned from the Oscars for a decade. In Jada’s words, “Do I have any desire to talk to Chris? Here’s my desire: I just hope that all the misunderstanding around this can be cleared up and that there can be peace.”
In the midst of these unexpected and dramatic events, it appears that the lives of Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, and Chris Rock have intersected in unusual and unexpected ways, leaving the public and their fans with many questions and much to ponder about the dynamics of fame, relationships, and reconciliation.
