Wanda Sykes Reveals Will Smith Eventually Called to Apologize After Chris Rock Oscars Slap
Written by b87fm on 10/28/2025
Nearly three years after that Oscars moment, Wanda Sykes has confirmed that Will Smith personally reached out to apologize for slapping Chris Rock — though the two never actually spoke.
In a new Variety profile, the veteran comedian opened up about the infamous 2022 Academy Awards, where she co-hosted alongside Amy Schumer and Regina Hall. What was meant to be a historic night celebrating comedy and diversity was instead overshadowed by Smith’s shocking confrontation with Rock after a “G.I. Jane” joke aimed at Jada Pinkett Smith.
“I forgot about that,” Sykes said when asked about the slap. “People talk to me about that night without even mentioning, ‘Oh yeah, you hosted, right?’ Like I was in the audience or watching from home. But I was there.”
Sykes revealed that Smith did try to make amends:
“He called. I had COVID or a bad cold,” she explained. “I just texted to say, ‘Hey, I got your message. Thank you. I can’t talk.’ But he did call.”
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The revelation marks a shift from her earlier statements in 2022, when she told Ellen DeGeneres that “no one apologized to [the hosts].”
Chris Rock, however, did apologize to Sykes that same night at the Oscars afterparty — something she didn’t think was necessary.
“He said, ‘It was supposed to be your night. You and Amy and Regina were doing such a great job. I’m so sorry this is now gonna be about this,’” she recalled. “Because that’s who Chris is.”
Elsewhere in the Variety interview, Sykes reflected on her career, her hit Netflix series The Upshaws, and why she’s not backing away from political commentary — even in the era of Trump.
“You can’t really censor yourself like that and give people a good show,” she said. “I can’t. So I don’t.”
Despite the chaos that night, Sykes remains one of comedy’s sharpest and most fearless voices — still unfiltered, still honest, and still standing.
