Chris Rock Swings Back: Will Smith blasted in Netflix's 'Selective Outrage'

by Zach Miller

    After watching Chris Rock’s new special Selective Outrage over the weekend, Rock solidified himself as a master of the craft and one of the great stand-up comics of our time. 

    In the first ever live comedy special in Netflix’s history, it was clear Rock had audiences tune in droves which provided a platform for all talent involved. The night began with comedian Ronny Chieng opening as the host of a pre-show that featured comedians such as David Spade, Dana Carvey, Arsenio Hall and Leslie Jones. Additionally, actor J. B. Smoove and NBA legend and civil rights activist Kareem Abdul-Jabar appeared to watch the event to speculate, as well as commentate a rock star performance; all anxiously awaiting him to wipe the comedy floor with his routine. 

    Rock presented a series of politically charged accounts around some of the pros and cons of "woke culture" and the problems with both sides of the aisle of government. Rock also goes into one of his larger bits targeting, what he calls the biggest addiction in America, attention. Specifically, he rambles onto the side-effects of social media. 

    However, the main draw for the event was undoubtedly for viewers and critics alike to hear Chris spill his feelings on the events that transpired with Will Smith. 

    Throughout the whole show, Rock held the audience in the palm of his hand banking to use his biggest controversial topic about Will Smith’s Oscars outburst until the very end of the performance. Rock explicitly recounted the event and even demeaned Smith by bringing up his marriage with Jada Pinkett-Smith even deeper. Rock alluded to the Red Table Talk conversation of Jada’s "entanglement" and delved deep into the Smith marriage, not holding back. Rock even went on to call Smith a b*tch several times in his rant. 

    Aside from what was spoken about Chris Rock’s own entanglement with Will Smith, he masterfully planned his use of the incident in perfect comedic timing. Choosing to hold back on any major public comment about the night of the Oscars, and instead using it for his own material had audience members and even non-fans tune in for the event dying to hear him finally speak on it. And what better stage to share his thoughts than through the voice of comedy? 

    Especially after the last 10 minutes of his act, Chris Rock proved once again that he can still throw audiences through a one-hour tirade of laughs. With all of Chris Rock’s many specials, and accolades, Selective Outrage sits among the top of the list for me.