It’s been a year since the 2022 Oscars, but the incident between Chris Rock and Will Smith over a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia is still making headlines. However, not all comedians will make light of the actress’s condition.
Marlon Wayans recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about his new comedy special and why he avoided any jokes about alopecia.
Marlon Wayans Takes A Stand
According to Marlon Wayans, the decision to avoid making jokes about Pinkett Smith’s condition was a no-brainer. He talks about how “Jada is a very stylistic person. She’s fashion-forward,” but Chris Rock may have missed “the episode of Red Table Talk where she talked” about her condition, which is why he commented “off the top.”
It’s not what I knew, and I don’t want to be insensitive to anybody going through that.”
“That’s a condition and that’s something that I won’t say I’m making fun of. Nobody knew that she had it. Jada is a very stylistic person. She’s fashion-forward. I don’t think Chris saw the episode of Red Table Talk where she talked about that. So I think Chris is just kind of commenting off the top, and I think they were dealing with the condition of it, and Will was being protective.”
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The actor clarifies that even though he doesn’t “want to be insensitive to anybody,” he still thinks that “that would have convoluted the message.”
“I just felt that would weigh down the special. That needs its own 10 minutes. And I think that’s a separate piece. And that takes investigation. It’s not what I knew, and I don’t want to be insensitive to anybody that’s going through that. I think that that would have convoluted the message, so I left it out and I just explored what was funny from a place that we can digest.”
Marlon Wayans has known both Smith and Rock for decades, and he understands the pressures of performing in front of a large audience. However, he believes that certain topics are off-limits and “too hard to digest” when it comes to comedy.
“I felt like some things are too hard to digest, so let me not spend that time dealing with that because it becomes something else. That’s a special unto itself.”
Marlon Wayans Chooses Peace
While Marlon Wayans may have avoided making jokes about alopecia, he didn’t avoid discussing the incident between Smith and Rock in his new comedy special.
“I can’t worry about what everybody’s thinking, what everybody feels. I have to talk about it because nobody else is. I have to come from an honest place as a brother. I felt bad for [Chris’ brother] Tony when this happened. I know me and my brothers would have been waiting outside the Oscars ready to jump Will. But at the same time, I can imagine what Will felt like.”
However, Marlon Wayans didn’t excuse Rock’s behavior at the 2022 Oscars. Instead, he expressed empathy for the comedian and the pressure he was under to get a laugh. Ultimately, Wayans’ decision to avoid making jokes about alopecia in his new comedy special speaks volumes.
As Hollywood prepares for this year’s Oscars, tensions remain high after last year’s incident. While Marlon Wayans may not have addressed Rock’s joke directly, his stance and support for Jada Pinkett Smith’s journey are commendable.
