Charlamagne Tha God Wants to Do a Podcast With Will Smith, Praises Chris Rock for Showing Restraint

More than a week later, the “slap heard ’round the world” still has Hollywood and beyond buzzing. Several celebrities have weighed in on what they thought about Will Smith marching up on stage and slapping Chris Rock after the comedian told a G.I. Jane joke about Jada Pinkett Smith.

One of those high-profile people who offered his take in on the matter is longtime radio personality and podcast host Charlamagne Tha God. Here’s what The Breakfast Club host had to say about working with Will Smith and the restraint Rock showed during the now-infamous moment at the 94th Academy Awards.

Charlamagne said one of the people he wants to do a podcast with is Will Smith

Every week, Podsauce hosts Dax Holt and Alesha Reneé speak with podcast creators to bring audiences closer to the celebrities, talent, and producers they listen to.

In an interview with Charlamagne Tha God, Holt and Reneé asked The Black Effect Podcast Network founder who he wants to do a podcast with and that’s when Smith’s name came up.

“A lot of different people,” Charlamagne answered. “Will Smith, Arsenio Hall, could you imagine an Arsenio Hall and Eddie Murphy podcast? Imagine the barbers from Coming to America with a podcast? I wouldn’t want Arsenio and Eddie playing themselves. Them playing the barbers … Will was supposed to have a podcast with Amazon, I don’t know what happened, I guess he got busy. Even when you listen to his audible book, you’re like, ‘Wow, I can sit around and listen to Will speak’ … I call him the Willie Lama. He has this enlightenment about him.” 

Charlamagne says he feels sorry for Smith but Rock didn’t deserve to be slapped

During his Brilliant Idiots podcast, instead of condemning either of the stars, Charlamagne tried to see both sides of what happened. He opined that Smith’s reasoning for going up on stage and doing that to Rock didn’t all have to do with the joke.

“If you’ve ever read Will Smith’s book, if you’ve ever watched Will Smith’s YouTube videos, Will Smith has talked to y’all so many times about feeling like a coward his whole life,” Charlamagne explained. “Feeling like a punk his whole life. It stems from his childhood when his dad used to beat on his mom and he said he’d never intervened. And he’s had to live with that forever. If you see somebody like Will Smith, at 53 years old, and they have a meltdown like that at The Oscars, on the biggest night of their career, on such a huge ass stage. If he’s breaking down and going through it mentally, what the f*** does that say for the rest of us?” 

Charlamagne added that Rock didn’t deserve to be slapped and the Saturday Night Live alum showed restraint by remaining so professional.

“He had commentary, you know, after the incident happened. He never stopped being Chris Rock. He never stopped being a professional,” Charlamagne said of Rock’s reaction. “I respect his restraint because that could have gone a whole different way. He did that just to get to that moment for Questlove because he knew Questlove was nominated in that category and won. He kept his restraint just to get to that moment.”

Smith resigned from the Academy, said he’ll ‘accept consequences’

Days after Smith smacked Rock, it was announced that he could face disciplinary action such as being banned from the Academy. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor then released a statement saying that he chose to resign over his conduct.

“My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home,” Smith said (per The Hollywood Reporter). “I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film.”

“We have received and accepted Mr. Will Smith’s immediate resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,” Academy president David Rubin said in a statement. “We will continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, in advance of our next scheduled board meeting.”

Smith responded that he will “fully accept any and all consequences” for his behavior.