Categories: In the Bleachers

Chris Rock’s Top Moments From The 88th Annual Academy Awards

Actor/comedian Chris Rock hosted the 88th annual Academy Awards amid controversy.  Rock’s opening monologue spared no one

Rock said the reason why blacks didn’t protest similar “white-outs” in the ‘60s, is because they were “too busy being raped and lynched to care about who won best cinematographer.”

“Why all the protests this year? This is the 88th Academy Awards and I’m sure this has happened at least 71 times before. I’m sure there were years in the ’50s and ’60s where black people didn’t get nominated. But we had better things to protest. We were too busy getting raped and lynched to care who was up for best cinematographer. When your grandma is swinging from a tree, It’s kind of hard to worked up about best foreign film.”

In describing “liberal Hollywood” Rock used a spot on analogy to explain this particular brand of racism, calling it “sorority racist.”

“Is Hollywood racist? You’re damn right. But Hollywood is sorority racist. It’s like, ‘We like you, Rhonda, but you’re not a Kappa.'”

Chris Rock tackled actress Jada Smith’s call to boycott the Oscars using he and Rihanna’s panties as the example.

“Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties. I wasn’t invited … Is it fair that Will didn’t get nominated for Concussion? No. But it’s also not fair that he got paid $20 million for Wild Wild West.”

Chris Rock on why he still hosted the ceremony amid calls for a boycott:

“I thought about quitting, but it’s not like they’re going to not have the Oscars. And the last thing I need is to lose another job to Kevin Hart. Dude works fast. Porno actors don’t work that fast.”

Chris Rock on “Creed”

“Things are changing. We got a Black Rocky. Some people call it Creed, but I call it Black Rocky. It takes place where white athletes are as good as black athletes. Rocky is science fiction. There are things that happen in Star Wars that are more believable than Rocky.”

Morgan Freeman was just there for the free Girl Scout cookies.

Rock went to Compton to discuss the movies.

He managed to work Stacey Dash into the ceremony.

Chris Rock closing the show inviting everyone to the BET Awards this summer and reminding them that “Black Lives Matter.”

To watch Rock’s opening head to Page 2.

Jill Munroe

Jill Munroe is a Los Angeles-based host, producer, and writer. You can find her work on sites such as FoxSports.com, EURweb.com, and MSN.com. Munroe is a current member of the African-American Film Critics Association and the National Association of Black Journalists. Munroe has also been a frequent guest on ESPN radio and Yahoo Sports. In 2015, Munroe released her first book, "PostGame Pass: access into "the life" JillMunroe.com

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