John Oliver Slams O.J. Simpson for Speaking Out on Will Smith Oscars Slap

John Oliver has criticized O.J. Simpson for publicly sharing his opinion on Will Smith slapping Chris Rock during March 27's Oscars.

Smith greatly overshadowed the glitzy awards ceremony when he bounded onto the stage at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre and slapped Rock in reaction to a joke the comedian had made about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

While a host of celebrities shared their takes on the incident in the hours and days that followed, Oliver has taken umbrage to Simpson adding his voice to those expressing opinions on the matter.

During Sunday's episode of HBO's Last Week Tonight, Oliver showed a clip of Simpson speaking in a video shared on Twitter, in which the former NFL star said that he was asked on a number of occasions to share his opinion.

Simpson—who in 1995 was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, but later found responsible for their deaths in a civil lawsuit—said in the video: "It was unfortunate, I think Will was wrong.

"Look, I understood the feeling... In my life, I've been through a lot of crap. I was raising two young kids and every comedian in the country had an O.J. routine, and don't think I wouldn't want to b-slap a couple of those guys."

"But you've gotta accept it, it's humor," he added. "And I didn't even think that was all that egregious. I thought it was a semi-unfunny joke, but I don't know, I don't get it."

Simpson added that he would have been sentenced to "life without" parole had he had lashed out in a similar manner, referencing his 2008 conviction on robbery and kidnapping charges in Las Vegas. Simpson served almost nine years in prison before being released on parole in 2017. He has since been discharged from parole.

Reacting to the footage—which was shot on a noisy restaurant terrace and was captioned: "He was wrong but I understand the sentiment"—Oliver told Simpson in a scathing assessment that he should "sit this one out."

"Nope, not you O.J., not you," he said, per The Hollywood Reporter. "No one wants to hear from you on this—especially, when you seem to be coming live from the COVID patio of a Señor Frog's. You can just sit this one out."

Making reference to Simpson's nickname "The Juice" from his football playing days, Oliver went on: "Think of this situation like a rowdy bachelorette ordering a mimosa: We want as little juice involved here as humanly possible."

After Smith slapped Rock on the Oscars stage, he returned to his seat, from which he twice yelled that the comedian should "keep my wife's name out your f****** mouth."

Later on in the show, Smith made his way back onto the stage to accept a Best Actor Oscar for his efforts in King Richard. During his acceptance speech, he apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and his fellow nominees. He apologized to Rock via Instagram last Monday.

On Friday, Smith announced that the was resigning from the Academy, describing his behavior as "shocking, painful and inexcusable."

Smith said: "The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris [Rock], his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home.

"I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken."