Comedian Chris Rock took some shots at Jussie Smollett during the 50th annual NAACP Image Awards Saturday night, 30th March.
Although Chris Rock was told to steer clear of the Jussie Smollett case at the NAACP Image Awards, the comedian couldn’t help but take a couple of shots at the “Empire” actor.
“They said no Jussie Smollett jokes,” said Rock while presenting the award for Outstanding Comedy Series. “Yeah, I know… What a waste of light skin. You know what I could do with that light skin? That curly hair, my career would be out of here! I would be f**kin’ running Hollywood.”
“What the hell was he thinking?” Rock asked. “From now on, you’re Jessie from now on. You don’t even get the ‘U’ no more. That ‘U’ was respect. You don’t get no respect from me.”
Smollett was nominated for an NAACP Image award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series but lost to “Grey’s Anatomy” star Jesse Williams. The award was announced at the non-televised 2019 NAACP Image Awards dinner on Friday, which Smollett did not attend.
Last week, Chicago prosecutors dropped all charges against Smollett after he was indicted on 16 felony counts for allegedly filing a false police report.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Image Awards and its first time being held at the Dolby Theatre, which also houses the Oscars.