Chris Rock has made headlines after he reportedly "stormed off stage" during a comedy set at a billionaire's party.
According to the New York Post, the lavish, star-studded event was thrown by cardboard box magnate, Anthony Pratt at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Australia. Rock surprised guests with a comedy show. The Post noted, there was "big excitement" as the comedian walked on stage and cracked a joke about the political climate in the U.S.
"Our new push will be outer space. We'll put all the Mexicans on the rockets," he said, according to the outlet. But then "he saw" something that the audience did not. As the Post's reporter Cindy Adams wrote, "We faced the stage. He faced us. Behind us the back walls and exit doors."
"Whatever he saw — or thought he saw — upset him. Like he … shouted something like he wasn't supposed to be taped, videoed, reported or whatever else wasn't supposed to happen," she wrote.
Rock subsequently stormed off the stage and out of the venue, "never to return."
The incident took place two years after Will Smith stirred controversy by taking the stage at the Academy Awards and hitting Rock across the face after he cracked a joke about Will Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, being bald. At the time he reportedly was unaware that it was as a result of an autoimmune disease.
Will Smith went on to resign from the Academy and was banned from attending ceremonies for 10 years. He later apologized to Rock in a YouTube video, saying that he was "ready to talk" whenever the comedian was ready. Despite this, the actor still received backlash, including from Rock, who months later blasted Will Smith during a stand-up show with Dave Chappelle at London's The O2 arena.
"F**k your hostage video," Rock said about the apology video, according to Deadline staff who were in the audience.
"Yes, that s**t hurt," Rock added about the altercation. "[Will Smith] played Ali. I can't even play Floyd Mayweather."