NEW ORLEANS — The Saenger Theatre has quickly added a second show for comedian Chris Rock after his pre-sale tickets quickly sold out for a show on September 30.
A second show on Saturday, October 1 was announced Thursday and tickets for that one could go quickly as well.
Rock's shows have been selling out around the country after the now infamous incident at the Oscars where he was slapped on camera by actor Will Smith following a rough joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith's, hair.
Tickets for Rock's shows have been hard to come by and prices have been soaring, including in New Orleans, since his controversial Oscars appearance this past Sunday night.
While presenting the Oscar for Best Documentary, Rock was making jokes at the expense of the celebrity crowd. This included Rock taking a jab at Will Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and her missing hair by referring to her as "G.I. Jane". Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, an immune disease that, among other things, attacks hair follicles.
It is unclear if Rock was aware of Pinkett Smith's condition when he made the joke, but regardless, Will Smith responded to the perceived attack by walking on stage and slapping Rock in the face. While many in the crowd seemingly made light of it, it became clear that Smith was serious after he was caught on camera cursing at Rock from his seat afterward.
Seats for Rock's shows are surging in price at the moment. While some seats at his New Orleans show can be bought for as cheap as $50, resale tickets are being gouged at an exponential rate, as can be seen with some of his Boston shows where resale price is being raised by 641% on some resale websites.