Will Smith Reportedly Disappointed With Chris Rock’s Netflix Comedy Special

Will Smith is reportedly unhappy about it Chris Rock: Selective Outrage (2023), the comedy special that was streamed live on Netflix last weekend. During the performance, Rock jokingly reflected on the now-famous blow with which Smith rocked the previous Oscar ceremony.

Serving hatch

An Entertainment Tonight source reports that Smith did not watch Rock’s special himself, but that people close to him told him what the comedian said. Smith is said to be ’embarrassed and hurt’: “The statements can be found everywhere if you look around the internet and social media, so Will and Jada have certainly read the necessary comments”.

Open relationship

Rock said during the performance, among other things, that he does not consider himself a victim, and supplemented his account with rumors about the couple’s alleged open relationship. In keeping with the comedy special’s title, Rock called Smith’s action a form of “selective outrage.” An extra joke about the flopped drama Concussion (2015), starring Smith, went awry: Rock confused the film’s title with Smith’s more recent “comeback film” Emancipation (2022).

Still ‘Emancipation’ via Apple TV+

Oil on the fire

As we reported this week, Smith recorded an emotional video a few months after the incident apologizing to Rock, but it now appears that Selective Outrage has added fuel to the fire. Smith would be angry and disappointed that Netflix gave Rock a platform to express himself in this way, and again say something about his wife.

Criticism and acclaim

Smith isn’t alone in not liking the comedy special; the Netflix show has received quite a few negative reviews in the United States. On the other hand, Rock receives support from some fellow comedians who mean it for him.

Own judgement

If you want to form your own judgement, you can watch the special on Netflix. Please check our previous disclaimer about the language settings.

Beeld: Still ‘Chris Rock: Selective Outrage’ via Netflix/Kirill Bichutsky