NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Actor Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars stole headlines and was all anybody appeared to be talking about Monday, but New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he doesn't have time to worry about such matters.
Adams on Monday stopped by the Kuei Luck Early Childhood Center in Rego Park, Queens to make a push for more funding for early childhood education as the state budget deadline looms.
During a question-and-answer session with reporters following his press conference, Adams was asked to weigh in on the now infamous Oscars moment during which the 53-year-old Smith walked on stage and smacked the 57-year-old Rock after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, Smith's wife, while presenting the award for best documentary during the broadcast of the 94th Academy Awards.
"I don't know if you saw the Oscars last night, but what did you think of Will Smith's performance?" WCBS 880's Marla Diamond asked the mayor.
"I was in a subway station last night. I don't have time for TV," replied Adams, who in recent weeks has been focused on improving safety in the subway system.
Adams had a busy Sunday, delivering remarks in the morning at the NYPD's Holy Name Society's 102nd annual mass and communion breakfast before speaking at New York City Councilmember Julie Menin’s inauguration. He later stopped by a Holi celebration and spoke at New York City Councilmember Farah Louis' inauguration in the afternoon.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Monday condemned Smith's actions and launched a formal review of the incident that could result in "further action and consequences."
Rock joked, "Jada I love you, 'G.I. Jane 2,' can't wait to see it," which prompted Smith to slap the actor across the face before returning to his seat and shouting for Rock to “get my wife’s name out your (expletive) mouth.”
Pinket Smith, who has a shaved head, has openly discussed her alopecia diagnosis.
The incident came less than an hour before Smith to the stage to deliver his acceptance speech after winning best actor for his role in "King Richard." It was the actor's first Oscar win.
Adams, meanwhile, also indicated he doesn't have time to take anymore questions about another controversial subject that has a much greater impact on New Yorkers -- the lifting of a vaccine mandate for professional athletes and entertainers.
Adams has faced pushback from unvaccinated city workers who lost their jobs for refusing to comply with the vaccine mandate after he allowed professional athletes and entertainers to play in New York City without getting inoculated.
Asked again whether the approximately 1,400 terminated municipal employees who lost their jobs for not getting the shot would be reinstated, Adams attempted to bring an end to the backlash.
"I spent two days talking about this, I answered every question that was given to me," Adams said. "What is not going to happen under my administration is the continuation of questions over and over again."
"We're in this universe where Eric Adams' name and Kyrie Irving may get a lot of clicks, that's fine, you do your, job I'll do my job," he added. "I'm not engaging in continuing questions on the same things over and over again. The Kyrie story, the performer stories, the athlete stories, that's over. Read my former comments, it's all there. I have a city to run, not staying in one place stretching out stories."
Irving was one of the more notable vaccine holdouts and was able to play his first home game of the season Sunday as the Brooklyn Nets hosted the Charlotte Hornets.
"If you need a creative way to write this story you're going to have to do that without my participation. I answered every question on this topic, there is no more questions for Eric Adams to answer. I have a city to run, not a sports team," Adams said, bringing the discussion to a close.
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