Chris Rock Says He Wants to Move On

The comedian says he is focused on his career and a forthcoming book years after the 2022 Oscars incident.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Celebrities

Wide view of an empty theatre auditorium with red velvet seats facing a bare stage and a single microphone stand under warm spotlight. — Comedian Chris Rock said Tuesday he wants to move on from the 2022 Oscars slap by Will Smith, focusing on his career and a forthcoming book. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Chris Rock said he wants to move on from the 2022 Oscars slap, in which Will Smith struck him onstage after a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head. Rock said he had a nice career before the incident and is writing a book.

Why it matters

Rock's comments mark a public effort to close one of the most widely discussed moments in recent awards-show history. The incident led to Smith being banned from Academy events for 10 years and prompted the Oscars to adopt new crisis measures for the 2023 ceremony.

Will Smith was banned from Academy events for 10 years following the 2022 ceremony. The source does not provide box office, viewership, or other commercial metrics tied to the incident or Rock's upcoming book.

The players

Chris Rock

Comedian and actor who was the target of the 2022 slap and has since said he wants to move on.

Will Smith

Actor who slapped Chris Rock onstage in 2022 and was later banned from Academy events for 10 years.

The details

At the 2022 ceremony, Smith walked onstage and struck Rock after Rock compared Jada Pinkett Smith to Demi Moore in GI Jane, then returned to his seat and shouted profanity. Smith went on to win Best Actor for King Richard that night.

2022: Smith slapped Rock at the Oscars ceremony.
September: Rock told Variety he wished nothing had happened.
2023 ceremony: The Oscars instituted new crisis measures.

Industry Dynamics

The 2022 Oscars slap remains a reference point for how the Academy responds to onstage conduct, which led to a 10-year ban for Smith and new crisis measures for the 2023 ceremony. Rock's comments show the comedian continuing his career in the years since the incident.

Rock's forthcoming book will be a new way for audiences to engage with his perspective on the incident. The source does not specify a release date or format.

The takeaway

The 2022 Oscars slap continues to shape how Hollywood discusses public conduct at major awards ceremonies. Readers following the story can track how Rock's upcoming work and the Academy's policies develop from here.