Mike Tyson’s particular theory about Will Smith’s slap to Chris Rock at the Oscars: how the boxer would have reacted

Will Smith hits Chris Rock as Rock spoke on stage during the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 27, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

If there was one voice missing in the resounding scandal between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Oscars, it was Mike Tyson‘s. The former heavyweight world champion spoke about the blow that the protagonist of “Soy Leyenda” applied to the humorist because of the joke he performed in his monologue about the health problem of his wife Jada Pinkett Smith (alopecia). The athlete gave his opinion during the last episode of his podcast, in the company of Ric Flair, the former American professional wrestler who was linked to WWE: he questioned the veracity of the facts and stressed that his punishment of Rock would have been more violent.

“I didn’t think it was real. I can speak for myself, and I’m pretty sure I’m speaking for Mike. If I don’t like a comment, for whatever reason, that someone said about my wife, I would punch her, not a slap in the face,” Flair offered her point of view at one point in the conversation.

“If Ric says it’s fake, then it’s fake. I would have given him more than one punch, too,” said Iron Mike. “When you are angry with someone, you punch them, not a slap,” he subscribed to the theory, which denies the consequences that the event had in the eyes of the world.

Although on the same evening he won the statuette for best actor for his work in the film “King Richard”, in which he played the father of tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, the actor resigned on Friday from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences due to his behavior at the ceremony. In addition, a couple of budding projects were suspended because of the event. The picture was different for Rock, who had to add roles from his one-man, given that the public demand for seeing him on stage grew.

In just a week, the slap effect was replicated in cascade in the world of sports. On Sunday, for example, a Moto3 rider slapped another one because he hit him. Then, in a tennis match at a junior tournament in Ghana, Michael Kouame, one of France’s promising young women, fell to local Raphael Nii Ankrah and slapped him after the defeat.

To close, Tyson gave special advice to the actor. A little less than a month ago, the former boxer turned businessman announced the release of his latest product: chewable cannabis gummies shaped like bitten ears , in a clear nod to his remembered aggression on the ring to Evander Holyfield. “I think Will needs to eat some and just relax,” he invited him, concluding the reflection in his podcast.