When Will Smith smacked Chris Rock on live television during the 94th Annual Academy Awards on March 27, people sat there in silence, stunned by what they’d just witnessed. But Smith’s longtime partner-in-rhyme and dear friend DJ Jazzy Jeff wasn’t exactly surprised.
During a recent interview with the Faq Podcast, the legendary turntablist reflected on that moment and imagined “the slap heard around the world” would’ve happened regardless of who was delivering the joke about his wife Jada Pinkett at the time.
“When it happened and I saw him walk up there, the one thing I would say – ’cause I’ve had people say, ‘Oh he wouldn’t have done that to no gangsta,'” he said. “Let me tell you something about Will. Will is somebody that cliff dove in Jamaica and couldn’t swim. Will was the person that whatever he’s afraid of, he runs to. I ain’t got that in me. I don’t have that in me at all. I’ve watched Will almost die numerous times running straight.
“Will would’ve slapped Mike Tyson. It did not matter who was there. Will would’ve got his ass beat, but he was going to do what he was going to do regardless of who it was. It wasn’t for fake. It wasn’t for show. I have to protect. If that was a grizzly bear, he would have did it. I know him.:
DJ Jazzy Jeff initially broached the subject while speaking to the hosts of Closed Sessions Legend Conversation at Dorian’s Through the Record Shop in Chicago in April. Naturally, he had Smith’s back but did note it was out of character for the Academy Award-winning actor to behave that way.
“Don’t get it twisted that it was something he was proud of,” Jazzy Jeff said. “It was a lapse in judgment, you know? I think the thing that I’ve realized is I don’t know too many people that has had the least amount of lapse of judgment than him.
“I can name 50 times that [Smith] should’ve smacked the shit out of somebody and he didn’t. So for him to have a lapse in judgment, he’s human. And I think a lot of the criticism comes from the people who don’t think people like that are human.”
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Smith has since resigned from the Academy, was banned from attending any Oscars-related events for 10 years and issued a public apology to Chris Rock. He was later photographed in India on some sort of spiritual quest in an attempt to “heal.” Rock, on the other hand, refuses to address the incident unless he’s collecting a handsome payout for his story. His mother said her son is “still processing” what happened but is doing well.
Smith charged Rock onstage after he made a G.I. Jane joke about Pinkett’s hair (or lack thereof). He declined to press charges.
No, Mr. Jeff, He would not.
No he wouldn’t, but Will still paying your bum a$$ so I get why you out here lying Jeff.
No wouldn’t. Stop????
This guy put his whole email on here lmao, nice one ray martinez
Will portrayed Ali that doesn’t make him Muhammed, Tyson would have knocked him out his boots, Smith wouldn’t remember shit like the device thing in MIB.
He clearly said he would’ve got his ass beat but guess not everyone reads
Exactly… You Know Who Post Comments Off Of A Title And Who Actually Read Or Listen To The Excerpts…..
he definitely would not have slapped Tupac
HA
And Mike Tyson would have punched his cuck behind back to West Philadelphia
Mike woulda peekaboo punched that nigguh
No the hell he wouldn’t and we all know it. Stop defending these obviously mentally oversensitive people.
Sooo, he thinks he could beat Mike Tyson. They should make a song about that.
They did in the 80’s
Come on Jeff! I know Will is your Boy,but saying dude would’ve slapped Tyson is Nonsense and you know it! FOH!!!
I know right STOP THE LYING!!
No he wouldn’t, Jazz. He slapped Chris Rock because he knew he was safe in doing so. Chris Rock has his head screwed on and did the right thing not retaliating.
I’ve always liked Will Smith, but since this I see him for the bitch that he is.
Nah he wouldn’t have.. stfu Jazz and that’s on Uncle Phil
No, Jeff. No he wouldn’t have. LOL.
I love the fact that people on here think they know will smith. Jeff knows him better than everyone on here. He knows his character behind closed doors. But peoples opinions are clearly more important now..lol
No bigger we just know the BS when we hear it.
No you don’t. The internet as made people silly.
People don’t need the internet to know BS when they hear it. People been calling out BS since the days of the ancient Egyptians. So yea, we know Jeff talking BS. Will slapped a guy 50 pounds lighter and 6 inches shorter for a tame joke. If Will was out there clocking n****s, we would have seen examples by now. A real n*** would be shamed to hit a dude small and soft as Chris or at least get him in parking lot when s*** could get real.
Will only proved he’s whipped punk- but that’s alright. Be who you are. Just don’t try to tell the world you’d punch the greatest boxing champion of your generation because you slapped Chris Rock and not expect people to call BS.
Yeah they’re was a comedy skit from I believe the 90s or earlier exactly the same to the T
FOH. Willy a coward
I’m sorry but cliff diving when you can’t swim takes more balls than getting knocked out by Mike. If Will really did that…then I believe Jeff lol.
Tyson is a midget.
Willie would fck him up
Woulda had Will lookin like you getting thrown out the front door