The Academy Awards is one of the most famous award events, yet it’s not uncommon for something infamous to happen. The words ‘infamous’ and ‘Academy Awards’ often bring to mind the 2022 Oscars ceremony, where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock, an incident that made headlines everywhere. While people must have moved on from the incident, some are indeed interested in keeping the controversial moment alive. Renowned comedian Jerry Seinfeld revealed during a recent interview on the Fly on the Wall podcast (via People) that he wanted Chris Rock to parody the infamous Oscars slap in his feature directorial debut “Unfrosted,” which recently premiered on Netflix.
However, his wish didn’t come to fruition as he filmed the comedy movie soon after the March 2022 Oscars, and Rock was reportedly too “shaken” to be able to perform in the movie. Seinfeld explained, “The other thing I wanted to do that I almost did was Chris Rock was going to be the emcee of the Bowl & Spoon Awards — and we shot that right after the Will Smith slap. I was going to have somebody come up on the stage and have Chris punch ’em out as they got there.”
Seinfeld said on the podcast that Rock “wasn’t up to perform” too soon after the 2022 Oscars, where Will Smith publically assaulted him after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith. Seinfeld said, “He was a little shook from that event.“
The comedian then asked podcast co-hosts Dana Carvey and David Spade if they thought Rock parodying the Oscars slap would’ve been funny. Appropriately putting his words, Carvey emphasized that it would’ve played well “without the Will Smith thing,” but because the Oscars slap happened, “there’s still kind of a residual darkness around that moment.”
Countering his notion, Seinfeld responded, “Isn’t that we’re attracted to, more than anything, residual darkness? I don’t know if it would have worked. It was an idea.”
Following the infamous incident, Rock largely avoided the spotlight in the months after the 2022 Oscars. Oscar-winning actor Will Smith also faced severe criticism for aggressive behavior at the Oscars. He even issued an apology and resigned from the Academy, which banned him from the Oscars for 10 years.
What is Jerry Seinfeld’s ‘Unfrosted’ about?
“Unfrosted” is loosely based on the true story of the creation of Pop-Tarts toaster pastries. In this “tale of ambition, betrayal, sugar, and menacing milkmen,” cereal company Kellogg’s attempts to beat their rival Post to the market with a revolutionary breakfast pastry in 1963 Battle Creek, Michigan. The film stars an ensemble cast that includes Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Max Greenfield, Hugh Grant, and Amy Schumer.
The film was released on May 3, 2024, via Netflix.
