Alan Davies has expressed his solidarity with Chris Rock after Will Smith punched the US comedian on stage at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday (March 27).
The British stand-up comedian said in a new interview on Tuesday (March 29) that he would always stand up for the comedian when asked about one of the most shocking incidents in the 94-year history of the Academy Awards.
Accepting the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature during the ceremony on Sunday night at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head.
“Yada, I love you. GI Jane 2can’t wait to see you,” Rock joked, whereupon Smith walked on stage and slapped the stand-up comedian.
In an Instagram statement, Smith later apologized for his behavior and said the joke about “Jada’s health was too much” for him – which triggered an emotional reaction.
Pinkett Smith announced last year that she shaved her head after suffering from alopecia.
During his interview with the BBC on Tuesday, Davies also said he did not believe Rock was “referring” to Pinkett Smith’s health, adding that Smith’s reaction was “in no way reasonable.”
“The little problem with people who say they’re offended and upset and want comedians to tone down their statements… My instinct and the instinct of every comedian is always, when you’re asked to tone down your statements, the instinct is always to do the opposite. And I’m sure that’s Chris Rock’s instinct…
“I’m a fan of Chris Rock,” Davies continued, revealing that he has tickets to see the comedian perform live at the Royal Albert Hall in London in May this year.
“I’m afraid I’m going to stand up for the comic.”
You can read Smith’s full apology to Rock here.
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