It seems like everyone in the world heard Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. Even if you only heard the slap secondhand, there’s a good chance you have an opinion on it. Tensions were high, friendships were questioned, and Will Smith even got banned from the Oscars for ten years as a result of it (via BBC). Needless to say, it was a cultural moment, but Gilbert Gottfried found a way to make the world crack a smile, even in the tough situation.
“Which is the worst crime? Chris Rock being physically assaulted or Chris Rock telling a joke?,” Gottfried posted on his Twitter. While the tweet seems a bit brutal, it accompanied a photo of him and Rock together smiling, so it’s clear that this was a joke. It may even be a better joke than what Rock told, but who are we to judge?
It only makes sense that Gottfried would weigh in on such a controversial moment. The actor and comedian was definitely never one to shy away from polarizing moments. Heck, he even mocked cancel culture itself, telling the New York Post, “It’s as if the whole world is your wife. You apologize 24 hours a day, whether you did something wrong or not.”
Whether you loved his jokes or loved to hate them, Gilbert Gottfried will be greatly missed by many.
