THE CLASSIEST COMIC IN AMERICA: CHRIS ROCK

Concert Photos / Alamy Stock Photo

THE CLASSIEST COMIC IN AMERICA

CHRIS ROCK

By Michael P Coleman, Freelance Writer

What would you do if you were speaking onstage and someone got up from their chair in the front row, walked up to you at the podium, and slapped your face in front of the live audience and tens of millions more watching worldwide on TVs, tablets, and telephones?

That scenario is more than a hypothetical one for comedian Chris Rock. You’ve seen the video if you didn’t catch it all live: Rock was presenting earlier this year at the Oscars when he was assaulted, and he miraculously and thankfully reacted very differently than you or I may have.

Immediately following “the slap,” abuser and Academy Award-winning actor Will Smith, who, believe it or not, graced the cover of “Men In Leadership” issue of this magazine in 2016, sauntered back to his chair, smirking. Meanwhile, Rock remained composed, even managing to crack a joke or two.

As the old show business axiom goes, the show went on, with Rock presenting an Oscar to someone that, today, few people remember and no one’s talking about. In my opinion, Rock deserves an Emmy Award for that performance. Let me be clear: if I’d been slapped, every “angry black man” trope would have played out during that television broadcast.

While a variety of Smith’s Hollywood projects are being cancelled or put “on hold,” Rock is on the road in Europe, performing and cutting up during his “Ego Death” tour. “I’m OK, if anybody was wondering,” Rock recently joked from the stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London. “I got most of my hearing back.”

According to the New York Times, Rock had said he wasn’t going to talk about “the slap heard around the world” during his tour. Clearly, he’s had a change of heart.

“People expect me to talk about the b———,” Rock continued from the stage in London. “I’m not going to talk about it right now. I’ll get to it eventually…on Netflix.”

Get your coin, Chris!

If Rock isn’t a Man In Leadership, and worthy of this cover story, I don’t know who is!

While his bank account reportedly took a significant hit just after his contentious 2016 divorce (he’s been open about having cheated on his ex-wife), Rock has clearly rebounded. With tickets to his current show selling at extremely high rates (his upcoming shows in Oakland are sold out, and the few tickets available for his San Francisco show are going for upwards of $700 each), Rock looks to significantly add to his coffers before his tour winds down later this year.

The London performance wasn’t the first time Rock has addressed the Oscars assault. During a recent show with comedian Dave Chapelle at the Hollywood Bowl, after Chapelle was tackled by someone who rushed him from the audience, Rock came onstage, borrowed the mic from Chapelle, and hilariously bellowed “Was that Will Smith?”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rock joined Chapelle later that week on stage at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. There, he said “I got smacked by the softest n———- that ever rapped.”

I’m not a proponent of the use of “the N word,” under any circumstances… but preach, Chris. I felt like doing the Carlton dance after I read that.

The 57-year-old comedian and father of two daughters was born in Andrews, South Carolina, on the same day (albeit about 30 years later) as my father, who was known (among other things) for his sharp temper. Clearly, astrology isn’t a factor with anger management, as my Dad, a volatile Aquarius, would have slapped the Fresh Prince of Bel Air back to Philly. Hat’s off to Rock for holding it together.

I know we’re celebrating Father’s Day, and as the father of two girls of my own, I have a vested interest in staying on script with that. But I’ve got to share that it was Rock’s mother who called a spade a spade with regard to “the slap.” During a recent interview with WIS-TV, Rosalie “Rose” Rock said she was hurt that Smith didn’t personally apologize to her son.

I’m with Mrs. Rock on that, because that’s what you do when you hit someone, or do anything that you know you shouldn’t have done: you grow a pair, and you apologize. And when you’re a real man, a Man In Leadership, and you get hit in the face, do you know what you do? I believe that the men and women of the cloth will agree with me on this: you turn the other cheek. Please don’t take my word for that: look it up for yourself.

“If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” -Matthew 5:38-40

Technically, it was Rock’s left cheek that took the brunt of wanna-be-Muhammad Ali’s blow, but I’d be splitting hairs to mention that. “Turn the other cheek.” If Jesus said it, that settles it, right? It’s all right there in The Good Book! Speaking of books, Rock has written one of his own, creatively entitled “Rock This!” But don’t get too excited…yet. Although Rock ought to be working on a new book, to capitalize on all of the hubbub, his hilarious, New York Times bestselling memoir was published back in 1997, a full quarter century before “the slap” (and before some who are reading this were born). As such, there are few allusions to what was to come in the comedian’s life and career. When you’re in your early 30s, you’re just starting to live your life, so a book might come across as kinda hollow. Rock’s first literary effort, overall, is.

However, the cover of the paperback version of “Rock This” features a notable endorsement: Back then, Time Magazine proclaimed Rock “The best comic in America.”

Today, while I don’t know about that, he’s a contender for the title, for sure. But Rock is absolutely the classiest comic in America. I can’t wait for the Netflix special, and for “Rock This, Vol. 2.” Knowing Rock as we all do, he’ll undoubtedly have a lot to say! n

“TURN THE OTHER CHEEK.” IF JESUS SAID IT, THAT SETTLES IT, RIGHT? IT’S ALL RIGHT THERE IN THE GOOD BOOK!

Michael P Coleman is a freelance writer, audio / video producer, and host. Connect with him at michaelpcoleman.com, follow his blog at michaelpcoleman.Wordpress.com, and follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @ColemanMichaelP

Quick tips for a smokefree life. SecondhandDangers.org

CIGARETTES MARIJUANA, , HOOKAHS VAPES, CIG , ARILLOS

More ways to smoke = more smoke Secondhand smoke is more common than you might think. In 2017 only 10% of Californians smoked cigarettes, but over half were exposed to the secondhand harm. And cigarette smoke is just the beginning. Californians face increasing levels of secondhand smoke from vape and marijuana. None of it is harmless. ALL SECONDHAND SMOKE IS HARMFUL

WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE EXPOSED TO DANGEROUS SECONDHAND SMOKE

1

Visit TobaccoFreeCA.com to learn about California smokefree laws.

2

Learn about your community’s smokefree policies

3

Contact your local health department to report being exposed or to get assistance on an issue you’re experiencing.

Just because it doesn’t smell like a cigarette doesn’t mean it’s not a health risk. There’s no such thing as safe secondhand smoke. Here are dangers specific to various smoking products.

Vape

At least 10 chemicals identified in vape aerosol are on California’s Proposition 65 list of cancer-causing and reproductive toxic chemicals. Cigarettes

Secondhand cigarette smoke causes approximately 7,330 deaths from lung cancer and 33,950 deaths from heart disease each year in the US. Cigarillos

Secondhand smoke from cigarillos contain the same toxic chemicals as cigarette smoke.

Hookah

Secondhand hookah smoke contains carbon monoxide and other toxic chemicals which can cause lung, bladder, and oral cancer. Marijuana

Secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same cancer-causing substances and toxic chemicals as secondhand tobacco smoke. In one study, 3 out of 4 kids whose parents smoked marijuana in the house had tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in their bloodstream.

PROTECTING YOUR LOVED ONES IN PLACES & SPACES

Know Your Rights & How to Stand Up

Secondhand smoke exposure is rapidly increasing, and it’s up to you to educate yourself on the policies in your community that protect your family. Cities, counties, and tribes enact their own smokefree policies. Local policies can build on statewide smokefree laws, and expand to more places and spaces to protect you and your family. When you know what policies are in place, you can stand up and protect yourself and your loved ones.

THESOLPROJECT. COM CA clean indoor air laws prohibit indoor smoking of: Vape Marijuana Cigarillos Cigars Hookah Cigarettes You can be exposed to secondhand smoke:

Indoors - your home, apartment, condo or some workplaces. Outdoors - sidewalks, entryways, parks, trails, restaurant dining patios, festivals, concerts, or other organized events and outdoor worksites.

Brought to you by The SOL Project, Funded by the California Department of Public Health Tobacco Control Program, under contract #17-10978. (c) 2022

PROTECT THE VULNERABLE

Children, Elderly People, and Pets

Secondhand smoke endangers the health of everyone in its reach, especially kids and pets who lack the ability to change their environments.

Kids face greater risk of:

Middle ear infections Respiratory infections Asthma Babies exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher rate of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

Elderly people (as well as all adults) are at risk of:

Chronic respiratory symptoms Asthma Heart attacks Weakened health

following ways:

Dogs show more instances of lung and nasal cancer. Cats living in homes with smokers have about 3x the risk of developing lymphoma, a cancer with a poor prognosis for survival. Birds develop respiratory problems, such as pneumonia and lung cancer.