Jada Pinkett Smith, a US actress, claims that comedian Chris Rock “asked me out” before being smacked by her husband, Will Smith, at the Oscars.
Smith smacked Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars in response to a joke about Jada’s shaved head, which was linked to her alopecia.
The event generated a barrage of social media comments, causing Smith to publicly apologize to Rock and quit from the Oscars.
The Academy also took a stern stance by imposing a 10-year ban on Smith for his actions.
In an interview with People Magazine, Jada revealed that Rock approached her in the summer of 2016 during the midst of rumors of difficulty in her marriage with Smith.
The 52-year-old actress claimed the comedian suggested taking her out because he thought she and her husband were about to divorce.
Jada also said she clarified that the divorce rumours were false after which Rock apologised to her.
“I think every summer all the reports would come out that me and Will were getting a divorce,” she said.
“And this particular summer, Chris, he thought that we were getting a divorce, so he called me and basically he was like, I would love to take you out.
“I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He was like, ‘Well, are you and Will not getting a divorce?’ I was like, ‘No. Chris, those are just rumours’.
“He was appalled and he profusely apologised, and that was that.”
Jada earlier revealed that she and Smith have been living separately for seven years but agreed to not get a divorce.