Jay Leno refers to Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock at the Oscars as the ‘most recorded assault in history’ while sharing his thoughts on the incident: ‘That is REAL anger’
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Jay Leno was ‘disturbed’ by Will Smith‘s profanity after he smacked Chris Rock at the Oscars.
The 71-year-old TV host claimed that Will – who struck comedian Chris across the face after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaven head less than an hour before he picked up his Best Actor statuette for his role in King Richard at the Oscars ceremony back in March – showed ‘real anger’ with the expletives he yelled immediately after the assault.
He said: ‘To me, the thing that’s most disturbing wasn’t the slap, because he was kind of smirking after he slapped Chris. It was the yelling of the obscenities. Then you go, “Whoa. What’s going on here?” This is real anger.’
‘Disturbed’: Jay Leno was ‘disturbed’ by Will Smith’s profanity after he smacked Chris Rock at the Oscars (pictured 2019)
While presenting an award at the ceremony, Chris said: ‘Jada, love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it’ and although Will laughed at first, Jada looked unimpressed and Will then walked to the stage, smacked the presenter and walked away.
Will then shouted from his seat: ‘Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.’
Since the incident, the Bad Boys star has withdrawn from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and has been banned from the ceremony for a decade, with the board set to launch a formal investigation but the former Tonight Show host went on to question the need for one.
Showing rage: The 71-year-old TV host claimed that Smith showed ‘real anger’ with the expletives he yelled immediately after the assault (pictured 2014)
Infamous: While presenting an award at the ceremony, Chris said: ‘Jada, love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it’ and although Will laughed at first, he ultimately went up and slapped Rock
Speaking to Palm Beach Daily News, Jay said: ‘What are you investigating? It had to be the most recorded assault in history. I saw the back of his shoe, I saw Chris’ ear. There were so many cameras on this incident. What are you investigating? I know sometimes things are just what they appear to be.’
Leno discussed myriad topics during the interview on top of the slap including an upcoming show he will put on in town.
When asked what fans could expect from the legendary comedian, Leno said he’s worked very hard to make sure the show isn’t divisive.
‘Traditional stand-up comedy. I’ve taken politics out, only because it’s so divisive,’ Leno explained. ‘I don’t dwell on it. I find now that when you mention a candidate in a joke, the audience pauses to see which way the joke is going. Can’t we just have comedy be comedy? Can’t we just be fun?’
No investigation required: Leno said he doesn’t think an investigation doesn’t need to happen because ‘It had to be the most recorded assault in history’ (pictured with Smith 2001)
Leno admitted that his stand-up schedule is nothing like it used to be, far more relaxed then when he was touring for months at a time.
‘I go out by myself,’ he said. ‘I don’t travel with anyone. I go to a place, I tell jokes, I come home. It’s not like I start in August and I end in May. I’m kind of taking care of some family members now, so I come home every two days. I try to be home most nights of the week.’
Later on, he encouraged young comedians to ‘work clean’ and make their obscenities subtle rather than overt.
Leno will perform at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach on Sunday, April 17.
Jay’s advice: Leno, pictured 2020, also encouraged young comedians to ‘work clean’ and make their obscenities subtle rather than overt during the interview
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