The NAACP laid down a strict rule for last night’s Image Awards: Don’t mention Jussie. Chris Rock clearly didn’t get the memo as he ripped through the ”Empire” star, even admitting he had lost his respect.
Rock was presenting the award for Outstanding Comedy Series, which gave him the opportunity to mock Smollett over his alleged involvement in orchestrating a hoax hate crime against himself.
“They said no Jussie Smollett jokes,” Chris Rock said. “I know. What a waste of light skin. You know what I could do with that light skin? That curly hair? My career would be out of here. Fucking running Hollywood.”
“What the hell was he thinking?” Rock warned. “From now on, you’re Jessie from now on. You don’t even get the ‘U’ no more. That ‘U’ was respect. You don’t get no respect from me.”
Smollett was not present at Saturday’s event.