Oscars co-host Amy Schumer says she's 'triggered and traumatized' by Will Smith's slap
The last hour of the Academy Awards was a trainwreck, and Amy Schumer is still reeling.
Schumer, who co-hosted the 2022 Oscars, spoke out Wednesday about the show being derailed by Will Smith slapping Chris Rock over a joke about his wife.
"Still triggered and traumatized," Schumer wrote on Instagram. "I love my friend @chrisrock and believe he handled it like a pro."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Smith went up on stage and slapped Rock after the comedian joked about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, having a shaved head. The King Richard star later said "a joke about Jada's medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally," as she has been open about struggling with alopecia.
Schumer praised Rock for staying up on stage to hand out an Oscar after being slapped, but she described the situation as "so disturbing."
"So much pain in @willsmith anyway I'm still in shock and stunned and sad," Schumer said. "Im proud of myself and my cohosts. But yeah. Waiting for this sickening feeling to go away from what we all witnessed."
Schumer hosted the Oscars with Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes. None of the hosts directly addressed the incident during the show, though Schumer at one point alluded to it, jokingly asking after a bit where she dressed up as Spider-Man, "I've been getting out of that Spider-Man costume, did I miss anything? There's like a different vibe in here."
Smith has since apologized for his "unacceptable and inexcusable" behavior, saying in a statement, "I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be." He has drawn condemnation throughout Hollywood and particularly from comedians, who expressed support for Rock.
"It's a very bad practice to walk up on stage and physically assault a comedian," Kathy Griffin tweeted. "Now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Today's political cartoons - December 21, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - losing it, pedal to the metal, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Three fun, festive activities to make the magic happen this Christmas Day
Inspire your children to help set the table, stage a pantomime and write thank-you letters this Christmas!
By The Week Junior Published
-
The best books of 2024 to give this Christmas
The Week Recommends From Percival Everett to Rachel Clarke these are the critics' favourite books from 2024
By The Week UK Published
-
Oscar predictions 2025: who will win?
In Depth From awards-circuit heavyweights to curve balls, these are the films and actors causing a stir
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Movies to watch in October, from 'Joker: Folie à Deux' to 'Saturday Night'
The Week Recommends Joaquin Phoenix as Joker, a new Jason Reitman comedy and a buzzy Palme d'Or winner
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published