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One year after the slap in the face at the Oscars, Chris Rock's scathing response to Will Smith

The comedian, who was punched live by the actor in the middle of the Oscars ceremony after making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, returned to the episode with some anger in a show broadcast on Netflix

A year after being slapped by Will Smith in front of a worldwide audience, American comedian Chris Rock hit back on Saturday, unleashing his punches in a stand-up routine broadcast on the Netflix platform.

In March 2022, the American actor took to the stage at the Oscars and hit out at the comedian who had just mocked the very short haircut of his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia. A few minutes later, Will Smith received the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in King Richard. He later apologised to Chris Rock, but was banned from the Oscars for a decade.

The comedian refused to press charges and has remained virtually silent about the incident ever since. But on stage in Baltimore on Saturday, he came out swinging, accusing the Hollywood star of "selective indignation", and claiming that he had attacked a man shorter than himself because he was upset that his wife had cheated on him.

"Will Smith practices selective outrage," Chris Rock said during the show, which was broadcast live on Netflix. The comedian added that Will Smith was widely mocked after an episode of his wife's podcast in which the couple talked about her affair and how it affected him.

"It still hurts

"Why would you do that?" asked Chris Rock. "Everyone called her a slut. They called his wife a predator. Everybody called him a slut," he said, noting that he tried to offer his support after news of the affair became public.

"People (ask me), 'Does it hurt? It still hurts," he said, referring to the slap he received. "Will Smith is definitely bigger than me. Will Smith played Mohamed Ali in a film. Do you think I auditioned for that?" he quipped.

The comedian, who seemed angry at times during his performance, said that before the slap he had always liked Will Smith, first as a rapper and then as an actor. "He'd made some great films. I've supported Will Smith all my life." But now he says he sides with the slave master who beats up Will Smith's character in his latest film, Emancipation.

Text by Le Temps with AFP

In France, it will be compulsory to wear a mask in enclosed public places from "next week".

French Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Thursday that the measure would come into force on 1 August.

The decree making it compulsory in France to wear masks in enclosed areas open to the public will come into force "next week", French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced to the Senate.

"We were planning for these provisions to come into force on 1 August", said the Prime Minister. "I understand that this deadline was too late (...) so the decree will come into force next week", he said during his general policy statement to the senators.

"An effective prevention and protection measure".

"Wearing a mask is an effective preventive and protective measure, along with observing barrier procedures", he stressed.

Emmanuel Macron's announcement on 14 July that it would be compulsory to wear a mask in "enclosed public places" from 1 August had pleased those who advocated this measure, but they were calling for it to be applied without delay, including in the workplace.

Jean Castex pointed out that "in so-called professional premises, this implies a change in the health protocols governing the activities concerned".

By APF LE TEMPS

Netflix shares rise on the stock market, despite coronavirus scare sending markets into panic mode

Netflix is not suffering from the coronavirus crisis. The streaming company's shares are on the rise, even though the stock market is falling amid growing fears about the epidemic.

Netflix is not suffering from the coronavirus crisis. Shares in the streaming company are on the rise, even though the stock market is falling amid growing fears about the epidemic. Netflix shares have risen by around 5 % this week, up to this Thursday 27 February, while the S&P 500 index, which brings together the 500 biggest US listed companies, was down by around 5 %. The index is currently on course for its worst weekly fall since the 2008 financial crisis, after fresh warnings from the US Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation suggested that the coronavirus was becoming a very real threat to Western countries.

Netflix could be immune to the blow to other stocks, so far, because investors think an epidemic could encourage people to spend more time at home - and watch the streaming service. Netflix shares continued to rise on Thursday afternoon. The stock was trading up 2 % at around $387 at around 7pm (Paris time). Other media stocks, including Comcast, Disney, Discovery, Fox and Roku, fell on Thursday afternoon. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were both down around 2 %.

The rise in Netflix shares also comes despite the increased competition the platform is facing from new streaming services such as Disney+ and Apple TV+, and soon-to-be-launched platforms led by Peacock and HBO Max.

Netflix shares have risen by almost 18 % since the start of the year, while the S&P 500 has fallen by around 4 %.

Original version : Ashley Rodriguez / Business Insider

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