Understandable but bad. Rock is in a social position we give special leeway to in terms of potential insult. If it was a random guy on the street, I'd get it more, but Rock's doing his job.
How badly would Gervais have been beaten during his appearances if this were the norm?
As in, I can understand how someone emotionally loses control even though it leads them to do someone stupid. Also in an honor-culture sense, where one would feel obligated, but that's why I pointed out comedians tend to get a carve-out for that.