Chris Rock comedy tickets skyrocket after Will Smith's Oscars slap

The Oscars incident has led to a surge in ticket sales for Chris Rock. Photo: AFP

The "slap heard 'round the world" has led to a surge in ticket sales for comedian Chris Rock, according to a Bloomberg report.

Rock's current tour ticket prices, which previously cost US$46 (RM193) per ticket at minimum, have jumped to at least $341 (RM1,433) per ticket, the report said.

Fans are likely anticipating that Rock, 57, will have tons of material to unload after A-list actor Will Smith, 53, smacked the comic for making a wisecrack about his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, during the Oscars on Sunday night.

The episode began when Rock took aim at Pinkett-Smith's shaved head, saying, "Jada, I love you. GI Jane 2, can't wait to see it, all right?"

Pinkett-Smith revealed in 2018 that she was diagnosed with alopecia, a condition which affects hair follicles and leads to hair loss, the report said.

Shortly after the incident, Smith won the Oscar for best actor for his performance in King Richard.

"Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family," Smith said as he began his acceptance speech.

He then paused, the meaning behind his choice of words clear, and teared up as he spoke about being a protector for those who worked with him on the film.

"I'm being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people," Smith said during his acceptance speech. "I know to do what we do you've got to be able to take abuse. You've got to be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business, you've got to be able to have people disrespecting you. And you've got to smile and pretend like that's OK."

The Academy Awards said it has started "a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our bylaws, standards of conduct and California law". – Staten Island Advance/Tribune News Service