Amy Schumer on watching Will Smith win his Oscar after slapping Chris Rock: 'Everybody was kind of floored'
On Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen Wednesday night, Amy Schumer shared what was going through her mind following the now-infamous moment when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars.
Schumer was one of three hosts for this year's ceremony, where, following the slap heard and seen around the world, Smith went on to win the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in King Richard and received a standing ovation.
Schumer shared, "I'll just say, I was backstage and I knew I had to go out. I was kind of the only host that was going out solo after that. It really felt like the Situation Room, you know, of comedy."
Schumer continued to explain how shocked she was by the incident, as she added, "We were all just, like, watching the monitor. And then he won. Everybody was just kind of floored with the whole thing. And I was just thinking about – what am I going to do when I go out there."
The following weekend, during a standup routine, Schumer stated that the incident was "upsetting" and that Smith's slap "says so much about toxic masculinity." However, in the moment, Schumer handled it like a pro, but added that the moment "really changed the air in the room."
Video Transcript
ANDY COHEN: So many people commented, and it became a big deal. And I just wonder if you have any thoughts about it. About the standing ovation that Will got when he won the award.
KYLIE MAR: Amy Schumer drops by Watch What Happens: Live Wednesday night, where she shared what was going through her mind following Will Smith's infamous slap across Chris Rock's face at the Oscars.
AMY SCHUMER: I was backstage, and I knew I had to go out. I was kind of the only host that was going out solo after that. So it really felt like the situation room.
ANDY COHEN: Yes, yes!
AMY SCHUMER: You know, of comedy?
KYLIE MAR: Schumer was one of three hosts for this year's Academy Awards ceremony, where following the slap heard and seen around the world, Smith went on to win the Oscar for best actor for his role in "King Richard" and received a standing ovation.
AMY SCHUMER: We were all just like watching the monitor and we're like-- and then he won, and we're all like-- like everybody just-- we were just, everybody was just kind of floored for the whole thing. And--
ANDY COHEN: Yeah.
AMY SCHUMER: Yeah, and I was just thinking like about how am I going-- what am I going to do?
KYLIE MAR: During a stand up routine the following weekend, Schumer stated that the incident was upsetting, and that Smith's slap says so much about toxic masculinity. But in the moment, Schumer handled it like a pro.
ANDY COHEN: You did a really good job.
[APPLAUSE]
ANDY COHEN: There are--
AMY SCHUMER: Really changed the air in the room.
ANDY COHEN: Yes it did.
AMY SCHUMER: Yeah.
