Chris Rock may still be reeling from Will Smith’s slap at the Oscars, but his bank account certainly isn’t.
Tickets to his upcoming stand-up tour, ironically titled Ego Death, have skyrocketed in popularity and price since he was on the receiving end of a forehand from the King Richard star at Sunday night’s ceremony.
Ticket marketplace site Tick Picks claims more tickets were snapped up overnight to see the comedian’s upcoming gigs than in the past month combined.
Tick Picks brand manager, Kyle Zorn, also claims prices for Rock’s show at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre on Wednesday have ballooned in value from $46 for the cheapest ticket on March 18, to a whopping $411 as of March 28.
The increasing of ticket prices as an event draws nearer is no new phenomena, but it would seem Rock’s popularity has certainly shown no sign of diminishing since the ugly incident on stage at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre.
Rock has maintained radio silence since the slap, while Smith has offered an Instagram apology for marching on stage and striking the comedian over a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
Smith, who took home the Best Actor Oscar on the night for his performance in ‘King Richard’, said he was “out of line” and personally apologized to the ceremony’s organizers, the public, and to Rock.
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,” Smith said. “My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable.”
The Academy Awards organizers condemned the incident and said it would investigate further, with some fans calling for the star to be stripped of his gong.
Los Angeles police said they would not pursue the matter after Rock declined to press charges.
Rock’s joke centered on the shaved head of Pinkett Smith, who has spoken publicly about having the medical condition, alopecia, which results in hair loss. It is unclear whether he knew of her condition.
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