Chris Rock recalls awkward encounter with Jude Law after Oscars joke

Chris Rock has revealed details about an awkward encounter with Jude Law following a joke he made about the actor during his opening monologue at the 2005 Oscars.

More than two decades after hosting the Academy Awards for the first time, the actor and comedian revealed which celebrity was particularly unhappy with his jokes on stage.

“I think I went a little too far with Jude Law… We’re fine now. But I remember running into him a little while later, and he clearly wasn’t taking it well,” Rock admitted in an interview with Variety.

At the time Rock delivered his monologue at the 77th Academy Awards, Law was at the height of his career, with six films released in 2004, including Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and Alfie.

“You like Tom Cruise and all you can get is Jude Law?” Rock joked. “Wait. It’s not the same thing, okay? Who is Jude Law? Why is he in every movie I’ve seen over the last four years? He’s everywhere. He’s even in movies he’s not in. If you look at the credits, you’ll find out he made the cake or something,” the actor said at the time.

According to E! News, although the audience could be heard laughing, Sean Penn later defended his fellow actor during the ceremony, calling him “one of our finest actors.” Law later responded as well. He said Rock had crossed the line after making his point and getting the laughs, but then appeared unwilling to stop.

Rock’s joke was not the only shocking moment in Oscars history. He made headlines for all the wrong reasons when he hosted the ceremony again in 2022. The situation escalated after he joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair, prompting her husband, Will Smith, to walk onto the stage and slap him.

Photo: Instagram/chrisrock