Chris Rock’s latest Netflix comedy special gets real personal. Not only does he reveal just how he feels about Will and Jada Pinkett Smith after Will slapped him at the 2022 Oscars awards ceremony, Rock also goes in on his ex-wife, claiming she has just as much money as the comedian after their divorce.
Rock pulled in major bank for the special, which debuted on March 4, on Netflix. In 2016, he made a $40 million deal with the streaming giant, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
It was for two stand-up specials. While Netflix never confirmed the amount Rock was paid per special, The Hollywood Reporter wrote, “The $20 million per special is believed to be more than such A-list comedians as Louis C.K., Jerry Seinfeld and Amy Schumer have commanded.”
The Ex Factor
Rock joked about how ex-wife Malaak Compton-Rock is smarter and more powerful than him. He added that although she is not as funny as he is, Compton-Rock has just as much money as Rock after their divorce.
He and Compton-Rock were married from 1996 to 2016, and have two biological children and one adopted.
“Women have all of the power. My ex-wife is the smartest woman I know. She has just as much money as me, ain’t funny at all,” Rock said during the special. “Ain’t nothing more powerful than female beauty.”
The conversation about his ex-wife got started after Rock opined on the difference between unemployed women and men.
According to Rock, “when men don’t work, it’s dangerous.”
It’s not the first time Rock has used his divorce for comedy’s sake.
Once while on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon,” Rock joked about how good his wive’s divorce lawyer was and how he has recommend him to others.
“I was like, ‘You should get this guy — he’ll get you your money.’ This guy is good, because I walked out with nothing.
I couldn’t even afford the tickets tonight! You think I’m joking, but I really did.”
Inside the Divorce
The couple did have a prenup agreement, but it expired under a sunset clause, which means any agreement they had becomes null and void upon the seventh anniversary of their marriage
They were married for 20 years.
Compton-Rock, who gave up her career in public relations, was a stay-at-home mother living in Alpine, New Jersey, with her Rock, taking care of their daughters, The New York Post reported.
When the agreement became null and void, the comedian’s eight-figure fortune hung in the balance at a Bergen County court.
A report said Rock had to pay his ex-wife $40 million, and he and his ex-wife had 50-50 child custody.
There was dispute over child support for their adopted daughter, Ntombi-Futhi Samantha. In the court papers, Compton-Rock maintained she and Rock raised the child together as her parents.
The final details of the divorce and child support settlement were sealed, according to TMZ.
Lola Simone Rock is now an adult, born June 28, 2002, and Zahra Savannah Rock, born May 22, 2004, is close to joining her sister in adulthood.
Rock also might have also paid child support for the third child, Ntombi, who was in the process of getting adopted by the couple before they broke up, People reported.
