Chris Rock Announces New Comedy Special, The First Netflix Will Ever Stream Live

Comedian Chris Rock unveiled plans on Christmas Day for his upcoming stand-up special — set to be Netflix’s first foray into live-streaming — which will premiere on the platform on March 4, 2023.

Rock will be performing the show — which he has titled “Selective Outrage” — in Baltimore, Maryland, and Netflix will stream the performance live in hundreds of countries around the globe at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

“Netflix’s First Live Global Event,” the streaming service shared the announcement in a tweet on Christmas Day. “Chris Rock, Selective Outrage. March 4, 10pm/7pm PT.”

Netflix's First Live Global Event
Chris Rock: Selective Outrage
March 4, 10pm ET/7pm PT pic.twitter.com/G0M0MFIo5n

— Netflix (@netflix) December 25, 2022

“No pre-records, no edits … wait a minute … 190 countries, all at once,” Rock said in the promotional video.

“Selective Outrage” will be Rock’s second Netflix stand-up special — he had previously partnered with the streaming platform for 2018’s “Tamborine” — and follows his 2022 appearance at the Netflix is a Joke: The Festival alongside fellow comedian Dave Chappelle.

The announcement also capped off a banner year for Rock, who graced front pages worldwide after taking a (literal) hit from actor Will Smith during the 2022 Academy Awards — over a joke Rock made at the expense of Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head.

Smith apologized, eventually — but the Academy slapped back with a 10-year ban for the “Emancipated” actor. Rock spent much of the rest of 2022 traveling with his Ego Death Tour.

Entertainment site Deadline first reported that Netflix planned to move into live-streaming back in mid-May, predicting that the still-developing capabilities would likely be used to stream comedy specials and other unscripted programming.

“It would mean that Netflix would be able to use it for live voting for competition series and talent contests such as its upcoming dance competition series ‘Dance 100’ from ‘The Circle’ producer Studio Lambert,” the outlet noted.

Netflix could also decide to bring back Netflix is a Joke: The Festival and add a few of those performances to the live-streaming offerings as well. The festival, which launched in the spring of 2022, included “more than 330 comedians performing 295 shows across more than 35 venues in Los Angeles” according to Deadline. It also featured the first-ever stand-up comedy performance to be held at Dodger Stadium and sold more than 260,000 tickets in total.

Florida Sheriff’s Deputy Killed Responding To Christmas Eve Domestic Violence Call

A sheriff’s deputy in Florida was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call on Christmas Eve, according to authorities.

Cpl. Ray Hamilton, a five-year veteran and member of the Okaloosa County Sherriff’s Office (OCSO) Special Response Team, succumbed to his injury at a hospital Saturday afternoon following a standoff at a home in Fort Walton Beach, per news releases from OCSO. The suspect in the fatal shooting, 43-year-old Timothy Price-Williams, was detained and faces a charge of premeditated murder.

OCSO had obtained a warrant for Price-Williams on a domestic violence battery charge but he refused to exit his townhome, authorities said. “The victim reported Saturday morning that Price-Williams had slapped her in the face and shoved her during an argument the night before, taking away her phone so she could not call 9-1-1 for help,” OCSO said.

“The OCSO Special Response Team was summoned to try to negotiate with Price-Williams to give himself up peacefully,” OCSO said. “Several deputies, including Corporal Ray Hamilton, entered an area behind the backyard fence of the premises to help establish a safe perimeter. Once they got into position, shots were fired from inside the home and Corporal Hamilton was struck.”

Hamilton was transported to HCA Florida Fort Walton Beach-Destin Hospital where he succumbed to his injury shortly after 3 p.m., authorities said.

“We are devastated by the grief of losing Corporal Hamilton, a deputy who was a ray of sunshine in the OCSO, dedicated to protecting others,” said Sheriff Eric Aden. “We appreciate the endless stream of words of support that have come in for his family and his co-workers as we face this heartbreaking loss of a profoundly loved and respected friend, public servant, and hero.”

The National Fraternal Order of Police tweeted, “Please pray for the friend and family of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team who was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence situation. The violence against our law enforcement MUST STOP!”

At some point in the standoff, Price-Williams came out of the home “in a manner that caused another deputy to fire on him, injuring Price-Williams in his right arm,” OCSO said. Price-Williams received medical attention at a hospital and was then transported to the jail, authorities said. He was charged with first-degree premeditated murder.