Chris Rock Owes an Apology After Walking Out of Billionaire’s Holiday Party
Quick dine ’n’ dash set
On Saturday, the Mandarin Oriental hosted a dinner party for Australian businessman Anthony Pratt, featuring a private sit-down for several hundred guests. The hired entertainer? None other than Keith Urban. Pratt certainly does not settle for small-time beer-and-burger stand-up acts.
As mentioned on Monday, since I was present, the opening act came from comedian Wali Collins, who joked, “I come from a mixed family. My father’s black, my mother’s left-handed.”
Suddenly, a surprise guest, the not-so-cheap Chris Rock, made an unexpected entrance from stage right, and his fee likely exceeded the cost of the sirloin served.
Three jokes and five minutes later, he seemed to catch a glimpse of the ballroom’s rear exit. It’s likely he noticed someone in the audience recording him.
Jumping off the stage, he bolted through the seated tables like Hunter Biden racing for his dealer—grumbling loudly all the while—and vanished without a trace, abruptly ending his performance.
To this day, there’s been no apology or explanation. However, I received an email yesterday from Wali’s agent indicating that the left-handed joke belonged to Collins and not Rock. Sure, I’m aware. All good. Best wishes and mazel tov to all.
I couldn’t care less where that one-liner originated, even if it came from Syria’s Assad. Rock’s behavior was egocentric, cruel, and simply unacceptable. How can he act this way?
He owes an apology—and a refund—to Pratt. I didn’t even finish my steak.
How tweet it is
I think it’s time for a new email, as I just received another message.
“The big bird sighting spot in Canada is Pelee Island.” Margaret Atwood has invited me to her Lotos Club book party about birdwatching this Tuesday on the Upper East Side, and she mentioned, “Space is limited.”
No worries, though. I can’t make it. Mother and her feathered friend can take my place.
Party time?
Another announcement: Gov. Hochul’s holiday gathering or Mayor Adams’ Hanukkah celebration? I must choose. Forget party lines—it’s all about which holiday event to attend. Both are scheduled for the 17th: 4 to 6 p.m. in Albany or 5 to 7 p.m. at Gracie Mansion.
Now some viewing treasure
Another film recommendation: “Nickel Boys.” This gripping film dives into civil rights, the Jim Crow South, and the impact of Martin Luther King. As star Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor asserts: “It’s not an outsider’s view of Black life in the South; it’s from our perspective.” It’s also quite brutal.
Additionally, we have “Star Wars,” a franchise that keeps expanding. The latest is “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,” a TV series on Disney+ featuring Jude Law as a character named Jod Na Nawood. He shared, “When I was 7, I watched my first ‘Star Wars.’ It made a significant impact on me and shaped the next eight years of my life.” Really? “Now my character sees kids as small adults.” Seriously?
Dis & dismiss
Ex-Marine Daniel Penny: May the force be with you. We women appreciate your actions. Thank you.
We are grateful. The issue was never you. Former Chief Judge Sol Wachtler once remarked, “You can indict a ham sandwich.” The real problem has always been DA Bragg, which stands for Dumb Ass.
Do you want to know how astute our DA is? I bet he thinks Shirley Temple Black is an African American synagogue.
Only in New York, folks, only in New York.
