Chris Rock opens up about therapy, his plans to get COVID-19 vaccine in Gayle King interview

Chris Rock has spent his time in quarantine reflecting on his past through therapy, he revealed.

Speaking to CBS Sunday Morning's Gayle King in a new interview, the 55-year-old comedian said he is in a "happy" and "optimistic place" now, now going to about seven hours of therapy sessions a week.

"You have to tell the truth," Rock said. "Sometimes I wasn't kind, and sometimes I wasn't listening. Sometimes I was selfish. And ultimately, who do you want to be? On the outside, it looks like I'm this daring person, but, boy, can I play it safe. I need to jump in the pool a little bit."

Rock had been to therapy before, but he didn't "really jump into it" until the pandemic hit. He says he still feels damage from the bullying he suffered as a child growing up in Brooklyn, but he has forgiven those who were unkind and acknowledges that the experiences "made me who I am" and hopes his bullies have become better people.

"People get better and people change," he said. "Right now, we're going through this thing where we're punishing people for thinking and feeling and saying things 20, 30 years ago. Do you know how easy it would be for me in one of my specials to name a name, or show a picture of someone and say, 'This person called me (expletive)' and ruin someone's life? ... I'm going to hope that what they did to me shames them in some way and they teach their kids better. That's my wish for them."

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In his upcoming Netflix special, an extended cut of his 2018 stand-up special "Tambourine," Rock includes a bit about how law enforcement is a profession that "can't have any bad apples," like pilots. Speaking to King, he opened up about his own experiences with police officers.

"Some jobs, you have to be totally accountable," he said. "You have to have a zero tolerance for any shenanigans. Most of my dealings with the police are good. But ... a couple years ago there was a cop who was like: 'What are you driving around here for? You don't live around here, do you?' And I'm looking at him like, 'You don't live around here.' "

King noted that some members of the Black community felt "trepidation" about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Rock said he "can't wait" until he is able to get one.

"Let me put it this way: Do I take Tylenol when I get a headache? Yes," he said. "Do I know what's in Tylenol? I don't know what's in Tylenol, Gayle. I just know my headache's gone. Do I know what's in a Big Mac, Gayle? No. I just know it's delicious."

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King also observed that Rock "clearly takes COVID very seriously," given that they were sitting outside his New Jersey home in the winter like "human Popsicles." Rock tallied the various production team members sitting off camera, noting that it was much safer to sit outside than to bring about 15 people he didn't know inside his home.

Outside of therapy, quarantine has brought more new lessons for the comedian. Rock learned how to swim in 2020, he revealed.

"I grew up in a 'hood, and you can't swim in a fire hydrant," he joked. "There was something in my head that said, 'If I can learn to swim, I can do anything.' If I can conquer this in my 50s, I can do anything."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Rock talks to Gayle King about COVID-19 vaccine plans, therapy