Chris Rock Through the Years: From ‘Saturday Night Live’ to the Oscars Slap

usmagazine.com:

The one and only! Chris Rock became a certified Hollywood star in the ’90s — and he hasn’t slowed down since.The South Carolina native gained traction after joining the Saturday Night Live cast in 1990.

He remained on the series until 1993 and has since returned to host the late-night show multiple times over the years.“SNL is still a pretty white show,” Rock recalled during an interview on “WTF With Marc Maron” in 2011. “When I got hired I was the first Black guy in like eight years — and In Living Color was just hip.

The s–t was hot. I wanted to be in an environment where I didn’t have to translate the comedy I wanted to do.”In his stand-up, Rock often gets real about politics and race — and he’s no stranger to making a controversial quip.

The Everybody Hates Chris alum publicly faced the consequences of an edgy joke at the 2022 Academy Awards after commenting on Jada Pinkett Smith‘s shaved head.“Will Smith just smacked the s–t out of me,” Rock exclaimed at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles in March 2022 after the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum got out of his seat and walked onto the stage, striking Rock in the face. (Smith later returned to the audience and warned, “Keep my wife’s name out your f–king mouth.”)In order to view the video, please allow Manage CookiesThe Will author went on to win the best actor trophy later that night and apologized for his behavior during his emotional speech.