Chris Rock’s Will Smith Slap Sparks Controversy at the Oscars

Controversy hit Chris Rock when he hosted the 2016 Oscars, not Will Smith. During his opening monologue, the comedian addressed Black Lives Matter and criticized the award show for its lack of racial diversity. However, Rock was soon met with criticism for his use of Asian stereotypes and joke about child labor. He said, “The results of tonight’s Academy Awards have been tabulated by the accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers. They sent us their most dedicated, accurate, and hard-working representatives,” before introducing three Asian children dressed in suits and carrying the famous results briefcases. He concluded his joke by saying, “Now, if anybody’s upset about that joke, just tweet about it on your phone that was also made by these kids.” This comment sparked outrage on social media, with many accusing Rock of hypocrisy for discussing the lack of diversity and then making a joke about Asians, one of the most underrepresented races in the industry. Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans are often cast in stereotypical roles, according to a study by Bloomberg.