Chris Rock Jokes About Dave Chappelle Attack In First UK Show In Five Years

Chris Rock joked about the Dave Chappelle attack during his first UK standup show in five years.

The 57-year-old comedian took to the stage last night (12 May) to kick off the UK leg of his Ego Death tour at London's Royal Albert Hall, with many people wondering whether he'd bring up the Oscars saga.

Unless you've been living off-grid for the past few months, you will remember the recent Academy Awards ceremony moment when Will Smith slapped Rock on the face for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

The shock moment caused outrage worldwide and fuelled the Academy's decision to ban the Fresh Prince star from the star-studded event for 10 years.

Rock certainly alluded to the incident last night, opening his set by saying: "I'm okay in case anyone was wondering. I got most of my hearing back and I'm trying to make a decent show."

The star then launched into his first segment, which was a critique on the sensitivity of the modern world.

"Everybody's scared, you know... the whole world is scared of offending. So people are talking less. So there's a lot of nodding," he said.

"[People say] You've got to be careful because words hurt, words hurt... you know, anybody who's ever said words hurt has never been punched in the face."

As the audience erupted with laughter, Rock quipped that 'everyone's a victim these days', adding: "There are real victims in the world, they deserve to be heard, they deserve our love and compassion. 

"But if everybody claims to be a victim, then no one hears the real victims."

It's at this point we get to Dave Chappelle, with Rock stating: "We say the world is addicted to opioids, no... the world is not addicted to opioids. The number one addiction in the world is attention.

"One of the easiest ways to get attention is to be infamous, to try to stab Dave Chapelle on stage.

"Or you can be a victim... it's the easiest way to get attention."

The jury's out on whether the earlier comment about being 'punched in the face' was a reference to the Oscars slap, but you can bet Rock was careful to avoid mentioning any names tonight if it was.

But he certainly did mention Chappelle, who was attacked earlier this month during a performance at the Hollywood Bowl.

As the 48-year-old comedian was nearing the end of his set at the 'Netflix Is A Joke' comedy festival on 3 May, an onlooker stormed the stage and tackled him to the ground. 

Rock himself was even reported to have taken to the stage to join Chapelle in the aftermath, calling back to the moment by quipping: "Was that Will Smith?"

As opposed to the Oscars slap, where Smith walked back to his seat as Rock attempted to continue hosting the show, Chappelle and the man are said to have tussled on the stage floor before the intruder ran behind a screen.

Members of security rushed to detain the man, and he was later taken into custody after LAPD discovered he had a weapon.