Oscars hosts break silence on Will Smith, Chris Rock: ‘Physically ill’

“Traumatised” Oscars host Wanda Sykes has revealed the surprising words Chris Rock said to her after he was hit by Will Smith onstage.

Oscars host Wanda Sykes has broken her silence on Will Smith’s infamous slapping of Chris Rock at this year’s ceremony, admitting she was left “traumatised”.

“I just felt so awful for my friend Chris,” the comic, 58, said in a sneak peek of Wednesday’s episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

“And it was sickening … I physically felt ill, and I’m still a little traumatised by it.”

During her interview with DeGeneres, Sykes also slammed the Academy for allowing Smith, 53, to go back to his seat – and then later accept the award for Best Actor – as if nothing had happened.

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The slap was felt around the world. Picture: Robyn Beck/AFP

A short time later, Smith was handed the Best Actor award. Picture: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

“I was like, ‘How gross is this?’” she told DeGeneres, 64. “This is just the wrong message. If you assault somebody, you get escorted out of the building and that’s it, but for them to let him continue, I thought it was gross.”

Sykes joked that when Smith won, she would have liked to run out and say, “Uh, unfortunately Will couldn’t be here tonight.”

.@iamWandaSykes was here today and shared some thoughts about #Oscar night. pic.twitter.com/i5tj8sYbIB

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 30, 2022

Sykes also shared that she saw Rock, 57, at Guy Oseary’s afterparty. She said the Saturday Night Live alum actually issued her an apology, to which she said, “Why are you apologising?”

Sykes said Rock told her that it was “supposed to be” her night, adding, “You, and Amy and Regina, y’all were doing such a great job. I’m so sorry this is now going to be about this.”

Sykes said that response was a testament to who Rock “is.” DeGeneres agreed, saying, “Chris is a sweet guy.”

Page Six exclusively reported Monday that Sykes was Rock’s “wingwoman” at Oseary’s party. “He was sitting at Guy’s dining table, and people lined up to console him and offer support,” a spy told us.

Rock has not issued a formal statement on the slap heard around the world.

Oscars co-hosts Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes, and Regina Hall. Picture: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Sykes’ fellow host Amy Schumer shared on Instagram that she, too, was “still triggered and traumatised” over the incident.

“I love my friend @chrisrock and believe he handled it like a pro,” the Trainwreck star, 40, added. “Stayed up there and gave an Oscar to his friend @questlove and the whole thing was so disturbing.”

During her interview with DeGeneres, Sykes added that she and fellow hosts Schumer and Regina Hall, 51, “worked really hard” to put the show together.

DeGeneres then praised Sykes and said, “Again, I want to say what a great job you did because that got overshadowed.”

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.