Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Chris Rock compares indicting Donald Trump to arresting Tupac Shakur: ‘He’s just going to sell more records’

‘Are you guys really going to arrest Trump?’ comedian questioned

Inga Parkel
Wednesday 22 March 2023 01:55 EDT
Comments
Chris Rock offers his condolences to coronavirus after Trump's diagnosis

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Chris Rock has joked that arresting former US President Donald Trump would strengthen his social status.

While on stage at a Sunday (19 March) event honouring Adam Sandler with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humour, Rock took a moment to crack a few gags about the ongoing political drama in the US.

“Are you really going to arrest Trump?” the comedian asked – per multiple US media reports – before joking that doing so is “like arresting Tupac. He’s just going to sell more records.”

Rock then suggested that indicting and apprehending the former president “is only going to make him more popular”, according to The Guardian’s David Smith.

Trump is currently facing several legal investigations into his conduct before and during his presidency, including his alleged use of campaign finances to pay for an adult film star’s silence, with whom he allegedly had an affair. Trump has denied the accusations and said he “never had an affair with [Stormy Daniels]”.

“We’ve all been cheated on,” Rock later quipped. “Don’t you wish that the person that cheated on you paid off somebody so you wouldn’t find out?”

Rock’s earlier reference to the late rapper Tupac was likely in regard to the skyrocketing sales of his 1995 album Me Against the World, which he released while serving an eight-month prison sentence on a sexual assault charge that was later appealed.

Chris Rock and Donald Trump
Chris Rock and Donald Trump (Getty Images)

Elsewhere in his speech, Rock revealed a brutal Will Smith Oscars joke that didn’t make the final cut into his recent Netflix special Selective Outrage.

The comedian was among several other comics, actors and filmmakers to speak in Sandler’s honour. Others, included Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Steve Buscemi, Luis Guzmán, Conan O’Brien and David Spade.

Their full remarks will air nationally on Sunday 26 March at 8pm EST on CNN.

Follow along here for live updates on Trump’s possible indictments.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in