Adam Sandler Denies That Chris Rock Went Too Far With His Will Smith Jokes: “He Was Real to Himself”

Adam Sandler is the latest figure to weigh in on Chris Rock’s controversial Netflix special — and the actor fully approved, saying that Rock “crushed it” and didn’t push the limits with his jokes about Will Smith and his family. 

Premiering live on Netflix on Mar. 4, Selective Outrage addressed the infamous Oscars slap between Rock and Smith. Rock also made comments in his special about the “entanglement” conversations that surrounded Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, prior to the Oscars drama.

Sandler, who was awarded the 2023 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor last night (March 20), was asked by People if he felt Rock “went too far” with his jokes aimed toward the celebrity family. He said, “Never thought that in my life.” 

The Uncut Gems actor added, “I thought he was unbelievably relaxed, funny, thoughtful.” He went on to say that Rock “crushed it and was real to himself,” and compared the anticipated special to the Super Bowl. 

“I thought about it all weekend. ‘All right, Rock is doing his thing tonight!’ Saturday, watched it in my kitchen, laughed my ass off, immediately watched it right after. It was one of the best experiences. I thought it was amazing,” shared Sandler. 

During the comedy special, Rock said Pinkett “started this shit.” He joked, “She said that me, a fucking grown ass man, should quit his job because ‘My husband didn’t get nominated for Concussion.’”

Following the release of the special, it was reported that Smith was feeling “embarrassed and hurt” by Rock’s jokes.

A source claimed to  Entertainment Tonight, “Will apologized to Chris and would like for Chris to let it go,” citing that Smith has “worked on himself” and accepted his consequence of being banned by the Oscars for 10 years.

Selective Outrage is now streaming on Netflix.