Comedian Chris Rock was instructed to steer clear of Jussie Smollett jokes while presenting an award at the NAACP Image Awards Friday, but the legendary entertainer just couldn't help himself.

Instead, Rock chided Smollett for allegedly orchestrating a hate crime hoax against himself.

What did he say?

"They said no Jussie Smollett jokes. Yeah, I know I know. What a waste of white skin. You know what I could do with that light skin? That curly hair? My career would be out of here — I'd be f**king running Hollywood," Rock joked.

"What the hell was he thinking?" he continued. "From now on, you're Jessie from now on. You don't even get the 'U' no more. That 'U' was respect. You don't get no respect from me."

The crowd loved Rock's jokes, especially Trevor Noah, who hosts "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central.

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Earlier in the evening, Lena Waithe came out in support of Smollett in her interview with Variety on the NAACP Image Awards red carpet, saying that she believes him and that "being queer and black is like having a target on your back every time you walk out the door."

Smollett was nominated for an NAACP Image award for best supporting actor in a TV drama for his work on FOX's "Empire." However, he lost to "Grey's Anatomy" star Jesse Williams. Smollett won the award in 2017.

Smollett did not attend this year's awards ceremony.