Comedian Chris Rock kicked off a short run of shows Wednesday at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre, his first performance since actor Will Smith slapped him at the 94th Academy Awards.NewsCenter 5’s Jessica Brown and Shaun Chaiyabhat were inside The Wilbur for the first of Rock’s two shows Wednesday night.Brown says it “was clear” fans were trying to send Rock a message of support.The crowd erupted into applause as soon as Rock came out. His first words were: “What’s up Boston? How was your weekend?!”After drawing a laugh with his opening line, the crowd continued to cheer for Rock, who became visibly emotional as he wiped away tears and was visibly crying.”Y’all are getting me all misty-eyed and (expletive),” Rock said.When the crowd finally calmed down, Rock said he had a whole show prepared before “what happened” and that he will eventually get to addressing the incident at the Oscars. He said the material he prepared was done in advance and joked that he did not have time to change it.“I’m still kind of processing what happened,” Rock said. “At some point, I’ll talk about that (expletive) … and it’ll be serious, it’ll be funny.”Rock’s six-show set at The Wilbur — two each on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. — is sold out, and no photography or video is allowed during the shows.
BOSTON —
Comedian Chris Rock kicked off a short run of shows Wednesday at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre, his first performance since actor Will Smith slapped him at the 94th Academy Awards.
NewsCenter 5’s Jessica Brown and Shaun Chaiyabhat were inside The Wilbur for the first of Rock’s two shows Wednesday night.
Brown says it “was clear” fans were trying to send Rock a message of support.
The crowd erupted into applause as soon as Rock came out. His first words were: “What’s up Boston? How was your weekend?!”
After drawing a laugh with his opening line, the crowd continued to cheer for Rock, who became visibly emotional as he wiped away tears and was visibly crying.
“Y’all are getting me all misty-eyed and (expletive),” Rock said.
When the crowd finally calmed down, Rock said he had a whole show prepared before “what happened” and that he will eventually get to addressing the incident at the Oscars. He said the material he prepared was done in advance and joked that he did not have time to change it.
“I’m still kind of processing what happened,” Rock said. “At some point, I’ll talk about that (expletive) … and it’ll be serious, it’ll be funny.”
Rock’s six-show set at The Wilbur — two each on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. — is sold out, and no photography or video is allowed during the shows.