Following the slap heard around the world when Will Smith slapped 2022 Academy Awards host Chris Rock, some comedy clubs might end up tightening their security. Not only that, warnings and metal detectors are so being looked at to curb potential copycats.
Comedy Clubs Are Considering Tightening Security After Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock at the Academy Awards
The news of film star Will Smith paint-brushing Chris Rock following a joke at Smith’s wife—Jada Pinkett-Smith—has been a thing for almost a week now. After all, it was the most eventful thing from a pretty uneventful ceremony. Even though things were apparently smoothed over by P. Diddy afterward and Rock chose not to press charges, sides were drawn on the televised assault.
A number of comedians—including fellow Awards host Wanda Sykes—viewed the slap and outburst as out of line. As a result of all of this, comedy clubs are looking at bringing in security guards. The concern is that others will feel emboldened to do the same when other comedians or themselves are performing sets in venues.
In talking with The Hollywood Reporter, Comedy Cellar owner Noam Dworman noted that this was unprecedented for the famous New York comedy club. Other clubs such as Broadway Comedy Club have always had security in the house just in case audience members got rowdy.
The Laugh Factory Chicago is an interesting case. Club president Curtis Shawn Flagg said that there have been talks about “beefing up security” as it has been noticed that audience members have become more aggressive lately. He told the Reporter:
“I’m going to talk to my staff, just for this weekend, and say, ‘We definitely need you by the stage now. That is your post.’ Just in case someone is just trying to recreate a moment or feels emboldened by what Will Smith did. And it’s unfortunate.”
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