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Comedian Chris Rock joked about Will Smith during his Sydney show, but that’s not what it was all about

Chris Rock fans who were hoping he’d go into detail about that Will Smith slap at the Oscars in March would have left the weekend’s show in Sydney disappointed.

In a wide-ranging show that lasted almost two hours, Rock covered topics as diverse as the Kardashians, Meghan Markle, US politics, abortion, #MeToo, his daughters Lola and Zara, and dating as a single man in his 50s.

But when it came to the Oscars, which dominated headlines after Smith took to the stage to slap Rock, the comedian only made floating references, including opening Saturday’s show by assuring the audience he was okay.

He later pointed out that he was hit by the actor who played Ali in reference to Smith’s starring role in the 2001 film in which he portrayed three-time heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. Rock joked that he himself wouldn’t even be able to play Floyd Mayweather.

He also said he can’t bring himself to watch Men In Black again.

Will Smith slaps Chris Rock on stage at the 94th Academy Awards.
Chris Rock joked sparingly about the incident that had everyone talking at this year’s Oscars.(AP: Chris Pizzello)

Rock is currently touring Australia. He’s already performed shows in Melbourne and on the Gold Coast, with his second Sydney show taking place tonight before he heads to Adelaide and Brisbane. His Ego Death World Tour is his first in five years.

Rock drew a massive audience to his Saturday show, with only a few seats left empty in the 9,000-capacity theater. And the audience was not only large, but engaged, punctuating each punchline with guffaws.

Fans were also forced to adhere to a particularly strict rule – no photography or recording devices were allowed inside. Smart phones were sealed in a pouch that had to be unlocked by a special device after the show.

The show started 45 minutes late with a warm-up act by comedian Rick Ingram, who decimated those who dared to sit in the front row.

Rock was dressed in all white from head to toe. His show from him was more on the amusing side than clutch-your-stomach hilarious, but the Emmy and Grammy award-winning comedian, who has earned his place from him as one of comedy’s brightest stars, was definitely worth seeing.

The Australian-leg of Rock’s tour is scheduled to wrap up in Queensland August 20.

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Phones banned from Chris Rock Australian tour

People planning to attend one of American comedian Chris Rock’s upcoming shows must abide by a strict set of rules or prepare to be “immediately ejected”.

The threat has raised eyebrows online ahead of the beginning of his Australian tour next week, with ticketholders given firm orders surrounding the event’s phone-free policy.

Holders of tickets, which cost between $134.85 and $217.05, have been told “no mobile phones, smart watches, cameras or recording devices will be allowed at the venue”.

Anyone who dares bring their phone into the venue can expect to be swiftly booted, the Ticketek booking site warns.

“Anyone caught with a mobile phone in the venue will be immediately ejected,” the site reads.

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All devices will be stripped from audience members when they arrive, and secured in a YONDR pouch that will be unlocked by a special device at the end of the show.

Guests will be required to take their unusable phones to their seats and hold them throughout the show.

Afterwards, they will line up to have the pouch unlocked at an unlocking station before leaving the venue.

Guests will also need to print physical copies of their tickets to gain entry because digital ticketing won’t be available, Ticketek warned.

Someone who purchased tickets for Rock’s show at Sydney’s Aware Super Theater expressed concern over the strict rule in a post to Reddit on Thursday.

“Just got tickets to see Chris Rock, terms on the tickets say all phones and smart watches will be secured and you’ll be ejected if caught using them,” they wrote.

“I’d kind of like to be able to be reached by the person watching the kids, what the f*** is with this?”

The ticketholder’s concern was addressed by another Reddit user, who claimed the same system had been in place for other comedians, musicians and movie premieres.

“I’ve had to do it many times (comedians like Dave Chappelle, musicians like Jack White, film premieres). There’s usually a designated place where you can get your phone unlocked and check it if required,” they wrote.

The Ticketek event page states that guests “may access their phones at designated YONDR unlocking stations in the lobby” during the show if they need to.

“We appreciate your co-operation in creating a phone-free viewing experience,” the page reads.

Rock made global headlines earlier this year after being slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars for making a bald joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia.

The comedian broke his silence last month during a performance alongside Kevin Hart and Dave Chappelle at Madison Square Garden, according to ETOnline.

“Yeah, that sh*t hurt, motherf***er – but I shook that sh*t off and went to work the next day,” he said.

After remaining mostly silent for months, the comedian-actor addressed getting smacked while headlining stand-up shows in New York and New Jersey, the new york post reported.

“Anyone who says ‘words hurt’ has never been punched in the face,” he said.

During the event, Hart brought a live goat onstage and introduced it as “Will Smith”.

Ticketek has been contacted by news.com.au for comment.

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‘Lost control’: Sticky Fingers storms off mid-concert in Melbourne

Controversial Australian band Sticky Fingers frontman Dylan Frost admitted he “lost control” when the lead singer sensationally stormed off in the middle of a concert last night in Melbourne.

The band was seven songs into its set when Frost appeared to become upset onstage. Video footage captured by a concertgoer and uploaded to social media shows Frost striking the microphone and throwing his guitar to the ground.

The rest of the band – Paddy Cornwall, Seamus Coyle, Beaker Best and Freddy Crabs – then followed him offstage.

According to the Herald Sun, a faulty microphone may have triggered the tantrum during the song “Not Yet Done”. Boos could be heard from the crowd.

Another 10 minutes passed before it was announced that the show had been cancelled.

On Sunday afternoon, Frost posted a statement to Facebook apologizing to fans.

“I’m really sorry for last night in Melbourne,” he said.

“I’ve been working hard on myself and will continue to prioritize my health, but I still let a lot of you down.

“I want to apologize to the fans and my band, our crew and venue staff.

“The tour has been amazing so far and we wanted to end it big, but I just didn’t have it last night and I lost control. We’re working on a new date to make it up to everyone or refunds for those who want them and we will let you know plans soon.”

The Saturday night Festival Hall gig was the last performance of Sticky Fingers’ Australian tour. The band had played on Friday night in Melbourne without drama. It’s expected the band will still perform in New Zealand next month.

An audience member told the Herald Sun, “The atmosphere at the gig initially was great. But then we only got three songs in and Frosty cracked the s**ts, stormed off and cancelled.”

Other concertgoers took to Facebook to express their annoyance.

for the Herald Suna fan named Jordan Patrick wrote on social media, “Unbelievable, I’ve been waiting for tonight for years, was so excited and absolutely devastated they ditched the show like that.

“So disrespectful to the fans who have stuck by them and waited to see them after such a long time.”

Other fans said they had flown to Melbourne specifically for the show.

Sticky Fingers was previously engulfed in scandal when Indigenous artist Thelma Plum Frost allegedly had in 2016 racially abused and threatened her. The accusation sparked a raft of boycotts.

Frost and the band denied the allegations but later issued a mea culpa around unspecified “unacceptable” behaviors and claimed that alcohol addiction and mental health issues were contributing factors.

Frost wrote in 2016 that he would seek therapy and rehabilitation and that he was “truly sorry to the people who have been affected by my behaviour” and that he hoped to “one day make amends for my actions”.

Frost isn’t the only band member to be embroiled in public spectacles. Bassist Cornwall had to issue an apology for 2019 rantings against ABC’s youth station, Triple J.

He initially said in an expletive-laden video posted to social media, “Triple J, f**k you and your f**king artist repertoire. We don’t f**king need you. We don’t want you because you play your f**king bullshit and you’re a bunch of f**king maggots.”

A year later, Cornwall apologized for his words. I have conceded that the relationship between Sticky Fingers and Triple J had fractured due to his actions.

He said in May 2020, “I was outta my head, not dealing with personal battles of my own, I’m sorry to the people I hurt at the station, as well as my own team.

“I ain’t the same derailed, angry person you saw last year. I’m not where I want to be yet but I’ve been doing a lot better, dealing with my demons. I hope sharing this helps find a resolve on the situation.”

In 2019, Frost and Cornwall were arrested for a violent punch-up between the pair at Marrickville Bowling Club in Sydney. It occurred after the band members had been drinking for six hours.

Cornwall was in 2021 sentenced to 18 months, to be served in the community.

News.com.au contacted Sticky Fingers’ management for comment.

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