How 'SNL' poked fun at Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars – again and again

Of course, "Saturday Night Live" had to acknowledge The Slap.

The sketch comedy show's April 2 episode (featuring comedian/actor Jerrod Carmichael as host and rapper Gunna as musical guest) tackled Will Smith now-infamously slapping Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars again and again (and again) throughout the show, from the cold open and opening monologue to "Weekend Update" and a parody sketch.

First up: The cold open, a "Fox and Friends" parody that featured a FaceTime call from former President Donald Trump, whom the co-hosts asked if he had seen "the famous slap."

"I did see slap, I enjoyed slap," said James Austin Johnson as Trump, before launching into a rant about Smith's 2005 romantic comedy, "Hitch."

"I was very impressed with my 'Hitch,' " he continued. "Quite an arm on 'Hitch,' I always knew 'Hitch' had an arm."

More 'SNL': Jerrod Carmichael jokes hosting 'SNL' is 'the gayest thing you can possibly do'

Host Jerrod Carmichael: 'I'm not gonna talk about it'

Host Jerrod Carmichael acknowledged the incident in his monologue, too, making it clear he was sick of the endless discourse after a week.

The April 2, 2022, episode of "Saturday Night Live" features comedian Jerrod Carmichael (center) as host and rapper Gunna (left) as musical guest. Also pictured: cast member Heidi Gardner (right).
The April 2, 2022, episode of "Saturday Night Live" features comedian Jerrod Carmichael (center) as host and rapper Gunna (left) as musical guest. Also pictured: cast member Heidi Gardner (right).

"I'm not gonna talk about it ... I kept talking about it, you can't make me talk about it," the comedian and actor began his monologue. "Do you want to talk about it? Aren't you sick of talking about it? Can you believe it's been six days? It was a week ago. Doesn't it feel like it happened years ago?"

And he concluded with a call to action from one of the few public figures who hasn't yet weighed in on the incident: former President Barack Obama.

"Hey B, what's going on, man? Real quick: You just chilling right now?" Carmichael addressed the politician. "You got us all hopped up on hope and change and unfortunately I have some news for you, Barack. You're not going to like this. We need you back because I think you're gonna have to talk about it. The nation needs to heal."

'I was out of line': Will Smith apologizes to Chris Rock after slapping him at Oscars over joke

'Oscars' spoof spotlights the seat filler next to Will Smith

And "SNL" didn't stop talking about it then, either. Carmichael played a seat filler at the Oscars who approached Smith (Chris Redd) to get a selfie with his "hero," just as Rock got up onstage.

"I'll be right back, man," Redd's Smith told the seat filler before a slap could be heard off-camera.

Jerrod Carmichael portrayed a seat filler at the Oscars who witnessed the moment Will Smith (Chris Redd) slapped Chris Rock onstage.
Jerrod Carmichael portrayed a seat filler at the Oscars who witnessed the moment Will Smith (Chris Redd) slapped Chris Rock onstage.

"Hey, so where are you from, man?" Smith returned to his seat and continued without skipping a beat. He then launched into his infamous "keep my wife's name out your (expletive) mouth" line.

"So anyway, how about that selfie, man?" he asked. "No that's ok, I deleted my phone," Carmichael replied.

Smith weaved in and out of light conversation and loud rants to the seat fillers around him. "Richard Williams was a fierce protector of his family," he shouted, before vowing to include the line in his speech.

Colin Jost jokes about having to defend wife Scarlett Johansson on 'Weekend Update'

"Weekend Update" dedicated a large portion of their jokes to the incident, too. Co-host Colin Jost joked that Smith set “a terrible precedent for having to defend your wife at award shows.” (Jost is married to actress Scarlett Johansson.)

Several NSFW jokes later, Jost also likened the viral event to the Super Bowl, “if Janet (Jackson)’s nipple slapped Timberlake.”

And the hosts welcomed O.J. Simpson (Kenan Thompson) for more commentary on the incident.

"In my humble opinion, Will Smith maybe overreacted," Thompson's Simpson said. Addressing the actor directly, he added: "I don't want to say you've got rage issues, but hey - if the glove fits."

More: Why we can't agree on Will Smith's slap

Rock has hosted "SNL" three times in the past 25 years, most recently in 2020. Smith has never appeared, but several comedians including current cast member Chris Redd have done impressions of him over the years.

What happened at – and since – the Oscars?

The week following the Oscars incident has been a whirlwind.

Smith slapped Rock during Sunday's awards show because the comedian made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith and her bald head – Pinkett Smith has been open about living with alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss.

Minutes later, Smith tearfully accepted his first Oscar award for his lead performance as Serena and Venus Williams' father in "King Richard." During the speech, Smith apologized to the academy and his fellow nominees for his actions, but did not apologize to Rock until the next day.

More: Will Smith and the 'unfair' burden Black men face

The saga didn't end there. As every celebrity from Oscars co-hosts Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer to Zoe Kravitz and Tiffany Haddish took sides, reports emerged that the Academy considered removing Smith from the show, Pinkett Smith posted on social media about "healing" and Rock addressed the incident for the first time Wednesday during a comedy show, telling audiences he was “still kind of processing what happened" and did not plan on discussing it at length yet.

Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the organization behind the Oscars) on Friday, citing his “shocking, painful and inexcusable" actions.

“The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home,” Smith continued. “I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken.”

'I am heartbroken': Will Smith resigns from the Academy over Chris Rock slap at Oscars

Smith added he would like to "put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'SNL' skits poke fun at Will Smith, Chris Rock Oscars slap

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