Chris Rock.Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty
Everybody wants to seeChris Rock.
Secondary ticket sellerTickPicktweeted Monday that they saw an increase in sales to see Rock perform following the incident, which aired live during the awards show. Rock is scheduled to perform at Boston’s Wilbur Theater Wednesday through Friday before his Ego Death World Tour begins Saturday.
“We sold more tickets to see Chris Rock overnight than we did in the past month combined,” TickPick revealed on Twitter.
The online marketplace told PEOPLE that over 50% of its sales for Rock’s tour “have come sincethe Oscars.” Tickets first went on sale on Feb. 24.
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Brett Goldberg, TickPick co-founder and co-CEO, told PEOPLE in a statement, “The circumstances surrounding the incident atthe Oscarscontinue to cause demand to surge for Chris Rock’s tour. More than 50 percent of tour sales on our platform have come through since Sunday’s Oscars and we expect this trajectory to continue.”
Smith, 53, struck Rock while the comedian was presenting at the Academy Awards. TheKing Richardactor was seated in the audience while Rock introduced the Best Documentary category, and made a joke about Smith’s wifeJada Pinkett Smith.
“Jada, I love ya.G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see ya,” Rock said, referring to Jada’s shaved head and the similar hairstyleDemi Moore’s character sports in the film.
Jada has been open about herstruggles with hair loss and alopecia, anddebuted her shaved hairstylein July 2021. After hearing Rock’s joke, Jada rolled her eyes and Will initially laughed. Then, the actor hopped out of his seat to join Rock onstage, where he struck the comic across the face.
Chris Rock; Will Smith.Getty (2)
“Oh wow,” Rock said as Smith returned to his seat. “Will Smithjust smacked the s— out of me.”
When Will yelled from his seat to Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—ing mouth!,” Rock replied, “Wow, dude, it was aG.I. Janejoke,” and went on to present the award for Best Documentary.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences issued a statement Monday afternooncondemning Will’s actionsat the awards show, and announced the launch of a “formal review around the incident.”
The Academy referenced their Standards of Conduct, stating, “Members should act in a manner consistent with the good reputation of the Academy,” and noted that unacceptable conduct includes “physical contact that is uninvited and, in the situation, inappropriate and unwelcome.”
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On Monday evening, Willissued an apologyto Rock on Instagram, where hedescribed his behavioratthe Oscarsas “unacceptable and inexcusable.”
“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong,” he wrote. “I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
Will also apologized to the Academy,the Oscarsproducers, all attendees and “everyone watching around the world.” He also issued an apology to the Williams family, the subject of his filmKing Richard(his performance in which he wonBest Actorfor), and his “family” from the film.
“I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us,” Will wrote.
Rock has not yet publicly addressed the altercation, and has so fardeclined to press charges.
source: people.com
