This year, the Oscars and ABC went into the ceremony with one big objective in mind – to increase the ratings. Suffice to say, they achieved it. Not because of the ceremony or any show-related reasons, but something that will be etched into everyone’s minds for a very, very long time. And that is Will Smith slapping Chris Rock on live television, a moment that broke the internet, including the NASCAR community.
Reactions began flooding in from fans, spotters, drivers, and all directions after the best actor winner from the night slapped one of the best comedians of our generation at the ‘has been’ of film award shows.
When Will Smith does not like your joke. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/EZRWhwocjy
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) March 28, 2022
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Will Smith was defending his wife. NHL and NASCAR fans get it. pic.twitter.com/hrOcOKFLqV
— Ina Hosmer (@InaHosmer) March 28, 2022
will smith walking back
#NASCAR #Oscars pic.twitter.com/Anr9Rgmizh— DennyDeliversYT (@DennyDelivers) March 28, 2022
If there were more Will Smiths of the world and less Chris Rocks (people so say or do stuff without getting smacked in the face) we wouldn’t have this problem. 😉 https://t.co/ltCheaS2iI
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) March 28, 2022
Will Smith done slapped a MFer. 😂😂
People calling it assault. Y’all are part of the problem. 😂😂
— Brett Griffin (@SpotterBrett) March 28, 2022
I rolled into DBC this morning and @mo_overstreet7 smacked the 💩 outta me.
Fearing for my life I had no choice but to unblock @DirtyMoMedia. https://t.co/FpKEKzobFU
— Freddie Kraft (@FreddieKraft) March 28, 2022
THIS IS THE 1979 DAYTONA 500 OF ACADEMY AWARDS CEREMONIES pic.twitter.com/DA7aaRW8EM
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) March 28, 2022
Lo de Will Smith me recordó esta premiación de Nascar donde pasó algo incómodo y similar: Jay Mohr se burla de Danica Patrick y su pareja. Ambos lo sabotean al no reírse y después ella lo acaba con elegancia. Mohr sabe que salió mal y se la tiene que aguantar. Nadie salió herido. pic.twitter.com/CjZ3ym8Pah
— Andrés G. Borges (@palabraseca) March 28, 2022
NASCAR takes jokes better than Hollywood
It’s not unusual for NASCAR drivers and teams to get into physical altercations with each other, in fact, some would say it’d be unusual if a driver didn’t get in a feud after a race incident.
But having said that, there are times when even racecar drivers find themselves on the other end of some brutal jokes. But even then, they take them like pros instead of getting up and slapping the host.
Take a look at the Jay Mohr monologues from the annual NASCAR ceremonies. In particular, consider the two incredibly funny highlights of the evening, Mohr’s jokes on Jeff Gordon and Danica Patrick.
The comedian used a recurring pattern of jokes as he’d pause the show to “take a message” from Production Control Room and then announce ‘news’ about Jeff Gordon.
Jokes on Gordon’s expense got funnier and funnier as the four-time Cup champion went from being a Best Picture nominee to having his own month, Jeff Gordonary. Clearly, these jokes were about the insane popularity of the racecar driver that stretched beyond the racecars.
Yet Gordon took them like a pro as he laughed along.
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Although Danica Patrick didn’t exactly ‘laugh along’, she still handled the situation pretty well.
Mohr made a series of jokes on her and her then-boyfriend, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. But he soon learned that his jokes weren’t landing well, that neither of the two were smiling, let alone going along.
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But despite this, neither of them stood up and slapped Jay Mohr on stage.
Also Read: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Gets Saltiness From a Fan; Clint Bowyer Shuts Them Down