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stated on March 28, 2022 in a Facebook post:

Says Chris Rock apologized after 94th Academy Awards, saying, “Last night I crossed a line that I shouldn’t have and paid the enormous price of my reputation as a renown comedian.”

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false

Chris Rock presents the award for best documentary feature at the Oscars on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)

Yacob Reyes

By Yacob Reyes March 29, 2022

No, Chris Rock didn’t write that he ‘crossed a line’ with Oscars joke

Since actor Will Smith struck comedian Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards, social media users have pined for new development in the celebrity drama.

But in the absence of a comment from Rock, it appears some have resorted to crafting their own.

A March 28 Facebook post shared a purported statement from the comedian. It was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)

"As a comedian it can be difficult to understand which lines are to be crossed and which ones aren't," Rock’s alleged statement read. "Last night I crossed a line that I shouldn't have and paid the enormous price of my reputation as a renown comedian."

stated on February 14, 2025 in social media posts

“DOGE subcommittee discovered $2.7 trillion in improper” Medicaid and Medicare payments to people overseas.

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The grammatically problematic statement attributed to Rock continued for a few more sentences with a "sincere apology" to Smith and actress Jada Pinkett-Smith before ending with Rock’s "hope that, with time, forgiveness can come of this situation and we can all be better, more considerate people in the end."

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Rock’s alleged statement also made its rounds on Twitter. "This is Chris Rock's apology to Jada and Will Smith," read one tweet sharing the statement. "Obviously, he's the only Man in this debacle."

Though one of the celebrities involved in the incident did release an apology — it wasn’t Rock. The comedian’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and website were void of the alleged statement, with his last posts centered on an upcoming tour. And there have been no legitimate news stories reporting this development.

Smith, meanwhile, released a statement on March 28, publicly apologizing to Rock and others, describing his behavior as "unacceptable and inexcusable."

"I was out of line and I was wrong," Smith wrote.

Though Rock did not immediately respond to PolitiFact’s request for comment, Rebecca Keegan, an editor for The Hollywood Reporter, tweeted that his representatives denied crafting the statement.

PolitiFact found no news reports or credible evidence to support that the apology was authentic. We rate claims that Rock issued this statement regarding the incident False.

Read About Our Process

The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter

Facebook post, March 28, 2022

Tweet, March 29, 2022

Instagram post, March 28, 2022

Chris Rock’s Twitter, March 29, 2022

Chris Rock’s Facebook, March 29, 2022

Chris Rock’s Instagram, March 29, 2022

Tweet, March 28, 2022

stated on December 16, 2022 in a town hall for U.S. veterans:

After Joe Biden became vice president, at the behest of his father, he gave his uncle, Frank H. Biden, a Purple Heart for serving in the U.S. military during World War II.

false

false

stated on December 14, 2022 in a press release:

Florida Senate Bill 2A does not provide "immediate relief" to homeowners dealing with high property insurance rates and "will force some … constituents to pay up to 20% more."

mostly-true

mostly-true

Karine Jean-Pierre

stated on December 9, 2022 in a press conference:

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema "voted with the president 93% of the time."

mostly-true

mostly-true

stated on April 22, 2023 in a statement:

Gov. Ron DeSantis sealed "all beaches" in Florida.

barely-true

barely-true

stated on March 4, 2023 in a post on Truth Social:

Violent crime in Manhattan is "now at a record level."

false

false

stated on March 4, 2023 in a digital advertisement:

"Ron DeSantis wants to raise the retirement age to 70."

barely-true

barely-true

Fentrice Driskell

stated on March 7, 2023 in a press conference:

"$1 of every $3 (Ron DeSantis) spends comes from the federal government."

true

true

The Gateway Pundit

stated on February 16, 2023 in an article:

"George Soros has endorsed (Ron) DeSantis for 2024."

false

false

stated on February 8, 2023 in a Facebook post:

"Ron DeSantis voted to cut $473 billion from Medicare."

half-true

half-true

stated on February 6, 2023 in a tweet:

"It's President Biden who is proposing to cut Medicare Advantage."

false

false

stated on January 30, 2023 in a tweet:

"(Ron) DeSantis' bill would remove: background checks, instruction, training and oversight."

half-true

half-true

stated on January 29, 2023 in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press":

"I got a list of 20 jurisdictions that defunded the police to the tune of over $1 billion total."

barely-true

barely-true

stated on January 17, 2023 in a press conference:

"Almost every study now has said with these new boosters, you're more likely to get infected with the bivalent booster."

false

false

stated on January 3, 2023 in a press release:

"Florida's water is dirtier and sicker than when Gov. DeSantis first took office."

half-true

half-true

stated on January 10, 2023 in a TV segment:

“The White House is now attempting to ban all gas ovens and burners.”

false

false

stated on December 16, 2022 in a town hall for U.S. veterans:

After Joe Biden became vice president, at the behest of his father, he gave his uncle, Frank H. Biden, a Purple Heart for serving in the U.S. military during World War II.

false

false

stated on December 14, 2022 in a press release:

Florida Senate Bill 2A does not provide "immediate relief" to homeowners dealing with high property insurance rates and "will force some … constituents to pay up to 20% more."

mostly-true

mostly-true

Karine Jean-Pierre

stated on December 9, 2022 in a press conference:

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema "voted with the president 93% of the time."

mostly-true

mostly-true

stated on April 22, 2023 in a statement:

Gov. Ron DeSantis sealed "all beaches" in Florida.

barely-true

barely-true

stated on March 4, 2023 in a post on Truth Social:

Violent crime in Manhattan is "now at a record level."

false

false

stated on March 4, 2023 in a digital advertisement:

"Ron DeSantis wants to raise the retirement age to 70."

barely-true

barely-true

Alex Jones
stated on March 11, 2025 in a podcast episode:

Deceased InfoWars reporter Jamie White was on a “Ukrainian enemies hit list.”

By Sara Swann • March 14, 2025
Facebook posts
stated on March 7, 2025 in a post on Facebook:

The Department of Government Efficiency “found a $6 million grant awarded to Whoopi Goldberg to ‘promote diversity on The View.’”

By Madison Czopek • March 14, 2025
Social Media
stated on February 25, 2025 in a post:

Girl Scout cookies are “toxic” because a study showed they contain glyphosate and heavy metals.

By Sara Swann • March 14, 2025
Facebook posts
stated on March 9, 2025 in a Facebook post:

Video shows “Stacey Abrams admits the $2 billion Joe Biden’s EPA gave her was used to buy votes of people in Georgia by purchasing them new appliances.”

By Loreben Tuquero • March 14, 2025
Karoline Leavitt
stated on March 11, 2025 in a White House press briefing:

“Tariffs are a tax cut for the American people.”

By Louis Jacobson • March 13, 2025
Brad Schimel
stated on February 6, 2025 in X, formerly Twitter:

“Eliminate school choice” is on Susan Crawford’s agenda.

By Madeline Heim • March 13, 2025
JD Vance
stated on March 10, 2025 in a speech to the National League of Cities:

“Under the previous administration … the cost of a median-price home in America more than doubled, and that was just in four years.”

By Louis Jacobson • March 12, 2025
Rick Scott
stated on March 9, 2025 in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union":

“The number of full-time jobs (was) dropping almost the entire Biden administration.”

By Louis Jacobson • March 11, 2025
X posts
stated on March 7, 2025 in on social media:

During President Joe Biden’s four years in office, “31% of U.S. job growth” came from public-sector jobs.

By Louis Jacobson • March 11, 2025
Facebook posts
stated on March 3, 2025 in una publicación en Facebook:

El 3 de marzo del 2025 falleció el presidente Donald Trump en un accidente de helicóptero.

By Maria Briceño • March 11, 2025

In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.

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