DE PERE (NBC 26) — Chris Rock's joke toward Jada Pinkett Smith at the 2022 Oscars sparked one of the most infamous moments in Oscars history in what is being dubbed as "the slap seen around the world." John Egan, a comedian with ComedyCity Theatre, says that when he witnessed the on-stage confrontation between Will Smith and Chris Rock he was stunned.
"My first thought was what happened? Because they stopped the audio so you’re just panicking like what’s going on, what was said?" Egan said. "Then they cut back to when Will Smith is screaming at Chris Rock.”
While he believes Smith's reaction was wrong, Egan says he does understand how the joke was insensitive.
"She has a medical disease, it’s part of her losing her hair, so once you add in a million layers… It should’ve just not been said,” Egan said.
He thought Rock could immediately tell that the joke had struck a nerve. While comedians may frequently push the boundaries with insult comedy or edgy jokes, Egan says as a comedian it's important to own up to it when your joke doesn't land.
"Most people have their set-up jokes," Egan said. "They have their set together, it’s polished, so if you’re performing you should be able to handle a situation when that comes up because jokes aren’t always going to land or work but that’s your job as a comedian.”
Mary Gallagher, a comedian from Wisconsin and UWGB alumna who is now working in L.A, says she was also in shock after watching the viral incident.
“I am constantly in that kind of self reflection of like 'oh what do I want to say here and how will this be received?'” Gallagher said.
Gallagher says the lack of response by security at the Oscars sets a dangerous precedent.
"If you’re in a comedy club and that happens, that person would be escorted out immediately and that did not happen," Gallagher said. "So it kind of feels like it set a precedent like that was okay.”
She says she personally has feared for her safety at a show before, describing an incident in college where she and another female friend opened for Sam Kinison at a show in downtown Green Bay.
"We were so excited, not really realizing that we probably weren't the best match for the crowd that Sam Kinison was pulling," Gallagher said. "It was a few thousand people saying 'get off the stage' and we were scared. It was a heavily male audience, guys were yelling 'take off your clothes or get out of here' and we were frightened. I just kind of thought if I can get through this, I don't think anything will be as hard as this."
While taking criticism is part of a comedian’s job, she says she hopes this situation will discourage incidents like "the Oscars slap" from happening.
“Maybe this will set in places better boundaries, better rules,” Gallagher said.
