Chris Rock and Amy Schumer are good friends. If one of my friends was assaulted, I’d be upset about it. Others, both present at the ceremony and in the viewing audience, were deeply disturbed by the incident. The fact that we’re still talking about it demonstrates the level of public interest it inspired.

As one of the hosts of the event, Schumer’s reaction was solicited by every media outlet. Today, it’s typical for celebrities to issue statements on Twitter or Instagram to address the clamor for a response. Co-host Wanda Sykes reaction was this: “It was sickening. It was absolutely sickening. I physically felt ill. I'm still a little traumatized by it." Sykes is also a good friend of Rock’s. The hosts most likely discussed these feelings with each other before making public statements.

Schumer expressed how she felt. She had every right to do so. Her gender and the color of her skin do not make her feelings irrelevant. She was present and a major part of the ceremony.