Chris Rock has not only addressed the infamous Will Smith slap in his new Netflix stand-up special, Selective Outrage, but he’s taken a dig at Meghan Markle as well – and her BFF was there to witness the whole thing.
Meghan Markle's BFF Bursts Into Laughter During Chris Rock Show
Getty | Mathis Wienand
Janina Gavankar Watched The Show
Giphy | ABC Network
Janina Gavankar, the Duchess of Sussex’s long-time best friend, was at the live taping on Saturday at the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore.
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She Stayed At The VIP Green Room
The 42-year-old True Blood actress, who’s been besties with Markle for about two decades, watched backstage from the VIP Green Room alongside her friend, Dave Chapelle.
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'Enjoying The Show'
A source told Page Six, “Janina looked to be enjoying the show very much, she was standing up by the TV screens and laughing.”
Rock Made Fun Of Markle
Now, we wonder what she really thought of the punches Rock threw at the 41-year-old actress-turned-Duchess, which were savage! He began the segment by saying, “Like, who is this girl Meghan Markle? Seems like a nice lady – just complaining. Like, didn’t she hit the light-skinned lottery?”
Her Racism Claims
Flickr | latinnewsmail
His routine included mocking her claims of racism against the British royal family.
'Concerns' About Archie's Skin Color
Flickr | modernbrewer54
In her and her husband’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Markle revealed that a member of the family had expressed “concerns” about the color of their son's, Archie, skin.
'They're So Racist'
Mimicking her in a high-pitched voice, Rock repeated the claims, saying, “She’s complaining, I’m like, ‘What the f**k is she talking about? They’re so racist, they wanted to know how brown the baby was going to be.’”
He Felt It Wasn't Racism
However, the comedian felt it wasn’t racism that the Suits alum was dealing with but “just some in-law s**t.”
Because Even Black People Did That
Flickr | tariqabbas1045
He said, “I’m like, ‘That’s not racist,’ ‘cause even black people want to know how brown the baby gon’ be. S**t. We check behind them ears.”
He Has Made The Same Jokes Before
It wasn’t the first time, though, that Rock made those remarks about the Duchess and the royal family.
Gavankar Probably Knew Them Already
Giphy | ABC Network
He’s been on a gig tour in recent months and, according to Page Six, Gavankar went to the previous shows as well. So chances are she already knew the jokes.
Rock Made History
Rock made Netflix history with Selective Outrage, which was the company’s first-ever live global streaming event.
Star-Studded Audience
Last Saturday’s show attracted a star-studded audience, including Spike Lee and his wife Tonya Lewis Lee and former Saturday Night Live stars Leslie Jones and Dana Carvey.
Other Prominent Guests
Comedians David Spade and Arsenio Hall were there, too, as well as Baltimore Mayor, Brandon Scott, and Maryland Governor, Wes Moore.
Gavankar Attended The Royal Wedding
Gavankar was one of Markle and Prince Harry’s celebrity guests at their wedding in May 2018. Winfrey was there, too, as well as George and Amal Clooney, David and Victoria Beckham, and others.
She Has Defended Markle In The Past
The Morning Show actress came to her friend’s defense in the aftermath of her interview with Winfrey.
She Reacted To The Royal Family's Statement
Back then, the royal family had responded to the Sussexes’ claims by saying that “some recollections may vary.”
Appearance On 'This Morning'
During an appearance on British talk show, This Morning, Gavankar took issue with the Palace’s statement.
“I know that the family and staff were well aware of the extent of it, and though their ‘recollections may vary,’ ours don’t because we lived through it with them,” she said.
'Many Emails And Texts'
“And there are many emails and texts to support that,” she continued.
