Jim Carrey has put a price on Will Smith’s slap heard ‘round the world – and that price would cost the newly-crowned Oscar winner a whopping $200 million.
The Sonic the Hedgehog star, who started his career as a stand-up comedian, revealed to CBS Mornings that he was “sickened” by Smith’s assault of Chris Rock on stage over a joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett-Smith.
Carrey also expressed his surprise that Rock would not be filing charges over the incident and quipped it would be a different story if he was on the receiving of that abuse from the King Richard star.
“He [Rock] doesn’t want the hassle [of suing],” Carrey said. “I would have announced this morning that I was suing Will for $200 million because that video is going to be there forever, it’s going to be ubiquitous.”
The Los Angeles Police Department has said it was aware of the incident but was not investigating because Rock declined to file a police report. Smith has since apologized for his actions.
“You do not have the right to walk up on stage and smack somebody in the face because they said words,” Carrey added in his interview with Gayle King.
“I was sickened. I was sickened by the standing ovation. I felt like Hollywood is spineless — en masse.
“This is a really clear indication that we’re not the cool kids anymore.”
Fellow comedians echoed Carrey’s sentiments, with Kathy Griffin fearing the implications Smith’s actions may have for other performers.
“Let me tell you something, it’s a very bad practice to walk up on stage and physically assault a Comedian,” Griffin tweeted.
“Now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters.”
Stand-up comedian Jeffrey Ross, who has alopecia like Pinkett-Smith, posted a statement calling for Rock to receive “a Nobel peace prize” for his conduct.
“I worship Chris Rock,” Ross wrote. “I cried when I saw Smith attack him because I was watching my idol live out a comedians worst nightmare on live television.
“Rock should get a Nobel peace prize for keeping his hands down and not escalating the situation. Class act.
“If Jada wasn’t feeling the jokes, Smith should’ve put his arm around her and let Rock finish.
“Anyway I also have Alopecia,” he added. “It sucks. But when people make jokes I laugh because that’s life.”
Never miss a story: Follow your favorite topics and authors to get a personalized email with the journalism that matters most to you.