Billy Crystal's weighing in on Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards, and the 74-year-old comedian's not mincing words when describing what he says transpired.During an appearance on Bob Costa's HBO Max show, Crystal said what the star did in physically confronting Rock was «assault.»«It was a most disturbing incident for sure.
It was an assault,» Crystal said. «I've had experiences. I hosted the GRAMMYs three times and I've been thrown things.»Crystal, who has been the emcee nine times at the Academy Awards, said there was a method to how he went about hosting the high-profile awards show.«In [Oscars] pre-production, the amazing Gill Cates, we would go through — he was the producer for six of the nine that I did — we would go through the rundown and I'd say, 'Maybe I should be there because something might happen there.
If that person wins, I should follow that.» Just about everyone has chimed in on the slap heard around the world, including Oscars co-host Amy Schumer, who recently recalled on being backstage following Smith's Oscar win and slapping incident.«I was backstage, and I knew I had to go out.
I was kind of the only host that was going out solo after that, so it really felt like the Situation Room of comedy,» she shared. «We were all watching the monitor, and then he won, like, everybody, we were just kind of floored.
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