‘WWHL’: Amy Schumer Advises Conan O’Brien To “Make Sure There’s No Beef With People Like Chris Rock And Will Smith” Before Hosting The Oscars
Amy Schumer gave Conan O’Brien the one piece of advice she wished she had been given before hosting the 2022 Oscars, during which Will Smith infamously slapped Chris Rock across the face.
The actress appeared on Monday night’s (Feb. 10) episode of Watch What Happens Live, where a virtual fan asked what advice she would give O’Brien before he makes his Oscars hosting debut next month.
“My advice to him would be make sure that there’s no beef beforehand with people like Chris Rock and Will Smith,” Schumer joked. “Just maybe check that out. That’s the advice I wish I was given.”
Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes were the hosts the 2022 ceremony when Smith left his seat in the audience to physically assault Rock, who had made an unscripted joke at the expense of Jada Pinkett Smith while presenting the award for Best Documentary Feature.
Poking fun at her shaved head, which was a result of alopecia, Rock suggested that Pinkett Smith star in a G.I. Jane sequel. The comedian was referring to Demi Moore’s shaved head in the original 1997 film.
That’s when Smith approached Rock on the stage and slapped him across the face. When he returned to his seat, he yelled out, “Keep my wife’s name out your fucking mouth.” Smith later apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and other nominees during his acceptance speech for the Best Actor award. He issued an apology to Rock on social media the following day.
Schumer, for her part, kept things light and airy when she returned to the stage after the tense incident.
“I’ve been getting out of that Spider-Man costume. Did I miss anything?” she cheekily said at the time, before adding, “There’s like, a different vibe in here…”
Smith, who resigned from the Academy, was ultimately banned from attending any AMPAS events for 10 years, so O’Brien shouldn’t have to worry about him causing any more dramatic moments at this year’s ceremony.
Watch What Happens Live airs Sunday through Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
