It’s no laughing matter.
Comedy golf equipment are reassessing security measures within the wake of Will Smith’s shocking assault of Chris Rock at the Oscars.
The actor, 53, stormed the stage at Sunday night time’s occasion, slapping the 57-year-old comedian throughout the face after he made a joke about his spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith, 50.
Now, venues throughout the nation are contemplating “including safety guards, pre-show warnings and even steel detectors” in concern of copycat assaults, in response to The Hollywood Reporter.
“We’ve by no means had something like that in our historical past,” Noam Dworman, proprietor of New York’s iconic Comedy Cellar, instructed the publication of the incident witnessed live by millions. “We’ve had viewers members offended at private jokes and who’ve had tiffs over time, however very, very not often have they [turned physical],” he added.
In the meantime, Broadway Comedy Membership in Midtown Manhattan instructed The Publish that they haven’t but beefed up security measures, as safety guards have all the time been on-hand.
The Publish additionally reached out to the Comedy Cellar, Gotham Comedy Membership and Caroline’s on Broadway, however they didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

Comedy Cellar’s Dworman instructed the Reporter that his workers would “maintain” any viewers member who storms the stage and would name the police to arrest them.
“There isn’t a method we might let any person go. He can be arrested, for positive. What occurred to Chris was 100% unsuitable. It’s simply loopy. Chris was doing the normal position of an Oscar presenter,” he declared.

Nonetheless, in Chicago, comedy membership president Curtis Shaw Flagg stated patrons have been extra aggressive than regular in latest months — and fears Smith’s slap could embolden them much more.
“There are conversations taking place as we talk about beefing up safety, having somebody that’s possibly close to or by the stage,” Flagg — who’s president of The Snigger Manufacturing facility Chicago — instructed the Reporter.
“I’m going to speak to my employees, only for this weekend, and say, ‘We positively want you by the stage now. That’s your submit.’ Simply in case somebody is simply attempting to recreate a second or feels emboldened by what Will Smith did,” he added. “And it’s unlucky.”
In the meantime, well-known comedians have slammed Smith for his assault, equally saying it could put different comics in peril.
“Let me let you know one thing, it’s a really unhealthy apply to stroll up on stage and bodily assault a Comic. Now all of us have to fret about who needs to be the subsequent Will Smith in comedy golf equipment and theaters,” Kathy Griffin tweeted.
“He may have killed him,” comedy director Judd Apatow wrote in a now-deleted tweet reposted by Selection editor-at-large Kate Aurthur. “That’s pure out-of-control rage and violence. They’ve heard 1,000,000 jokes about them within the final three a long time. They don’t seem to be freshman on the earth of Hollywood and comedy. He misplaced his thoughts.”
On the Oscars, Rock in contrast Jada Pinkett Smith — who suffers from alopecia and shaved her head final summer time — to Demi Moore’s bald character from the movie “G.I. Jane,” prompting the slap from Smith.

“Hold my spouse’s title out of your f–king mouth!” Smith then shouted — twice — after returning to his seat.
A visibly shocked Rock continued along with his set earlier than leaving the stage. Simply minutes later, Smith scooped up the Best Actor Oscar for his position in “King Richard.”
Smith apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees throughout his acceptance speech. On the time, he notably not noted Rock’s title, however he has since issued a formal apology, together with to Rock.
The Academy stated it’s investigating the incident in a “formal review” that may “discover additional motion and penalties.”