Oscars host Amy Schumer eased the tension at the 2022 Oscars with a joke following Chris Rock being slapped by Will Smith during the award show.
“I’ve been getting out of the Spider-Man costume, did I miss anything?” the comic, 40, questioned sarcastically, receiving laughter from the audience and kudos from fellow stand-up Tiffany Haddish.
“There’s, like, a different vibe in here. Probably not. Well, anyway!” she added before moving on to jokingly call Kirsten Dunst a “seat filler.”
The incident occurred when Rock cracked a joke at Jada Pinkett Smith’s expense, comparing the actress to “G.I. Jane” because of her bald head.
Pinkett Smith, 50, looked furious as Smith approached Rock, 57, and smacked him across the face. Censors then turned on and muted Rock and 53-year-old Smith’s exchange as the Oscar winner repeated, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f–king mouth.”
During the commercial break, Smith was comforted by Denzel Washington and Bradley Cooper, and moments later won the award for Best Actor for “King Richard.”
“Art imitates life; I looked like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things,” he said, tearing up during his speech.
Fortunately for Schumer, her jokes about Leonardo DiCaprio went over a bit more smoothly, as she called out his habit of dating younger women early in the telecast.
“I mean, Leonardo DiCaprio — what can I even say about him? He’s done so much to fight climate change and leave behind a cleaner, greener planet for his girlfriends.”
She sarcastically explained the joke, adding, “Because he’s older, and they’re younger. You get it.”