CHRIS TOUR SALES ROCKET
CRACK OPEN THE PUNCH! ROCK SEES FANS FLOCK TO WATCH HIM LIVE AFTER SMACK FROM MAN IN BLACK
CHRIS ROCK will be (slap) happy with a surge in sales for his world tour – following his shock on-air Oscars showdown with Will Smith.
Smith smacked the comedian in the face for joking about his wife at Sunday’s ceremony.
But Rock’s popularity hasn’t taken a hit – as TickPick claimed it had ‘sold more tickets overnight than in the past month combined’ for his Ego Death shows.
Kicking off the tour on Saturday, the funnyman will perform in the UK for the first time in five years in May, including a date in London. Rock, 57, had yesterday not apologised for his joke comparing the Men In Black star’s wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, 50, to GI Jane.
He allegedly had no idea that the actress, who has a closely shorn haircut, suffers from alopecia – with a source insisting he ‘doesn’t have a mean bone in his body’.
Chaos ensued when Smith stormed the stage at LA’s Dolby Theatre and hit Rock, shortly before being named best actor for his role in King Richard, a biopic of the Williams tennis family.
Smith, 53, later took to his socials to say sorry for his violent outburst.
‘My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable,’ he wrote. ‘Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear.
‘I would like to publicly apologise to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be.’
He also apologised to the Academy, audiences, his film colleagues and the Williams family, adding: ‘I deeply regret my behaviour has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey. I am a work in progress.’ Pinkett-Smith alluded to the drama on Instagram, posting: ‘This is a season for healing and I’m here for it.’ The Academy ‘condemned’ Smith’s actions and said a formal review has been launched. While it is unlikely his award will be taken back, Smith could have his membership revoked, said the Hollywood Reporter.