Ricky Gervais Finally Breaks His Silence on Chris Rock’s Controversial Oscars Joke About Jada Pinkett Smith, Revealing His Unfiltered Thoughts on the Will Smith Slap That Shocked the World—And How He Unexpectedly Became a Trending Topic Amid the Hollywood Chaos

Introduction: Ricky Gervais Weighs in on the Oscars Slap Heard Around the World

More than three years after the shocking moment at the 2022 Academy Awards when Will Smith stormed the stage and slapped Chris Rock over a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, the incident remains one of the most talked-about moments in modern award show history. The slap not only resulted in a decade-long Oscars ban for Smith but also reignited discussions about comedy, free speech, and Hollywood’s thin skin.

Now, Ricky Gervais—one of the most outspoken and fearless comedians in the industry—has finally shared his unfiltered take on the controversy. Known for his brutal and unapologetic roasting of celebrities at the Golden Globes, Gervais has never shied away from making bold statements about Hollywood’s hypocrisy. But while he wasn’t even present at the 2022 Oscars, his name started trending online immediately after the slap, with fans debating whether he would have handled the situation differently or if Will Smith would have dared to attack him in the same way.

So, what does Gervais really think about the infamous slap? And how did he react to unexpectedly finding himself at the center of the conversation? Let’s break it all down.

The Joke That Started It All: Chris Rock’s Comment on Jada Pinkett Smith

To understand Gervais’ take on the matter, we need to go back to where it all started: Chris Rock’s now-infamous joke.

During the 2022 Oscars, while presenting the award for Best Documentary Feature, Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, saying:

“Jada, I love you—G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.”

The joke was a reference to the 1997 film G.I. Jane, in which Demi Moore shaved her head for the role. While many in the audience chuckled, Jada Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia—a medical condition that causes hair loss—was visibly unamused. Seconds later, Will Smith shocked the world by walking onto the stage and slapping Rock across the face.

Smith then returned to his seat and shouted:

“Keep my wife’s name out your f**ing mouth!”*

The moment left audiences stunned, sparking an avalanche of reactions from fans, celebrities, and comedians alike.

Ricky Gervais’ Initial Reaction: “That Wouldn’t Have Happened to Me”

Although Gervais wasn’t present at the Oscars that night, his name immediately began trending on social media. Fans speculated that if Gervais had been the one hosting the ceremony, he wouldn’t have held back on the jokes—and that Smith might not have dared to slap him.

At the time, Gervais responded in classic fashion: by making light of the situation. During a stand-up show shortly after the Oscars, he joked that if he had been the host, he wouldn’t have made fun of Jada’s hair—he would have joked about Will and Jada’s open marriage instead.

“I wouldn’t have made a joke about her hair. I would have made a joke about her boyfriend,” Gervais quipped, referencing the well-known rumors about Jada’s relationship with August Alsina.

The comment went viral, with many praising Gervais for his sharp wit while others criticized him for adding fuel to the fire.

Gervais Finally Speaks Out: His True Thoughts on the Oscars Slap

Now, in a recent interview, Gervais has gone even deeper into the subject, sharing his real thoughts on the slap, Chris Rock’s joke, and the way Hollywood handled the aftermath.

1. On Chris Rock’s Joke
Gervais made it clear that he didn’t think Rock’s joke was offensive at all.

“It was a mild joke. It wasn’t even close to being offensive. I mean, I’ve said far worse things to a room full of celebrities, and no one’s ever come up and hit me,” he said.

He also pointed out that Rock likely didn’t even know Jada Pinkett Smith had alopecia, making the slap even more unwarranted.

“It wasn’t a joke about her illness. It was a joke about a woman with a shaved head—something that, by the way, many Hollywood actresses have done for roles in the past. If anything, it was a compliment. Demi Moore looked great in G.I. Jane!”

2. On Will Smith’s Overreaction
Gervais didn’t hold back when talking about Will Smith’s actions, calling the slap completely unhinged.

“Imagine being so fragile that you can’t handle a joke at an awards show without resorting to violence. That’s what Hollywood has become—millionaires pretending to be victims, getting offended at the slightest thing, and acting like they’re above being made fun of.”

He also questioned why Smith initially laughed at the joke before reacting aggressively.

“He laughed. The camera caught him laughing. Then he saw Jada’s face, and suddenly he decided to be the tough guy. That’s not standing up for your wife—that’s trying to save face.”

3. On Why He Became a Trending Topic
Gervais admitted that he was amused by how quickly his name started trending after the slap, even though he wasn’t involved in the event at all.

“I was sitting at home, watching Twitter explode with people saying, ‘If that was Ricky Gervais, Will Smith wouldn’t have dared.’ And I thought, why am I suddenly part of this story? I wasn’t even there!”

He added that he found it hilarious that fans believed he would have gone even harder on the jokes if he had hosted the Oscars that year.

“People were saying, ‘If Ricky had been hosting, Will Smith would’ve been on stage throwing punches all night.’ And I thought, yeah, maybe—but I also would’ve had an entire monologue roasting him after the slap. That’s the difference.”

Final Thoughts: Gervais Doubles Down on Comedy Over Cancel Culture

For Gervais, the Oscars slap was a perfect example of how comedy is being threatened by over-sensitivity and performative outrage.

“The whole thing just proved what I’ve been saying for years—Hollywood takes itself way too seriously. These are the most privileged people on the planet, getting upset over jokes while the rest of the world struggles with real problems.”

He also emphasized that comedians should never be afraid to push boundaries, even if it means offending people.

“The moment we start saying, ‘Oh, you can’t joke about that,’ comedy is dead. It’s our job to point out absurdity, to challenge people, to make them laugh at things they might not want to laugh at. That’s why Chris Rock didn’t deserve that slap—and why I’ll never stop making jokes, no matter how much people complain.”

With that, Gervais has once again cemented himself as one of the few comedians willing to call out Hollywood’s hypocrisy. Love him or hate him, one thing is for sure—he’s never going to be silenced.

And as for Will Smith? It seems his days of slapping comedians might not be over just yet.