Chris Rock’s performance at the Oscars was widely criticized for being too “political.”
Chris Rock’s opening monologue at the 2019 Academy Awards was criticized by many for being too political, but some viewers were particularly upset by a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith boycotting the ceremony because of a lack of diversity in this year’s nominees. The joke itself has also been criticized for relying on racist stereotypes about black women and their hair.
The joke referenced an Instagram post made by Jada Pinkett Smith, who said she would not be attending the ceremony because of its lack of diversity. The post, which showed her with a clean-shaven head, garnered more than half a million likes and was accompanied by an explanation that she would be boycotting the event as “a nod to my African ancestors.”
“Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties,” Chris Rock said during his monologue. “I wasn’t invited!”
What did Chris Rock mean when he said he wasn’t invited?
Rock later clarified that he had not been personally invited to host the ceremony, and instead accepted an invitation from producer David Hill to host “the most important awards show of our time.” Hill has produced all but one of the Academy Awards ceremonies since 1989.
