Chris Rock's mom reacts to Will Smith slapping her son at the Oscars

Chris Rock's mom, Rose Rock, is standing up for her comedian son.  

The motivational speaker shared her reaction to Will Smith infamously slapping her son live on television during the 2022 Oscars while visiting South Carolina station WIS-TV's Soda City Live on April 22.

"When Will slapped Chris, he slapped all of us, but he really slapped me," she said. "Because when you hurt my child, you hurt me." 

The 77-year-old noted that she had "never met" Will prior to the incident and initially believed that it was a staged event "until he started with the obscenities."  

At the March 27 awards ceremony, Will struck Chris after the comedian made a joke about his wife, , and her hairstyle. When the King Richard actor returned to his seat, he repeatedly shouted that Chris needed to "keep my wife's name out of your f--king mouth."  

While reflecting on the altercation, Rose said that she had "no idea" what she would say to Will if given the chance except: "What in the world were you thinking?" 

"You did a slap, but so many things could've happened from that," she explained.

"Chris could've stepped back and fallen. You really could've been taken out in handcuffs. You didn't think. You reacted to your wife giving you the side-eye and you went up and made her day because she was bowled over laughing when it happened."