Irreverent comedian Chris Rock took full advantage of Matt Lauer making a poor choice of words to roast Chris Brown for assaulting Rihanna.

According to The Hollywood Gossip, Chris Rock dropped by ‘Today Show Thursday’ to promote his new movie, ‘Madagascar 3.’ The show had just come back from a commercial when Lauer commented on the lovely New York City weather. The ‘Today’ host then segued into a comment about rapper Brown’s upcoming Friday concert.

“We’re hoping the same kind of weather hits us tomorrow,” Matt Lauer innocently said, “When we’ve got Chris Brown out on the plaza.”

Chris Rock did not let the chance to crack a domestic violence joke slip away. “Did you say you hope the same weather HITS you?” Rock clarified.

Matt Lauer immediately realized his problematic choice of word with regard to Chris Brown. “Should we fix that one for the West Coast?” he jokingly asked.

“I hope some weather doesn’t SMACK us upside the head,” Chris Rock stated. He referred to Brown’s domestic assault conviction in 2008, when Chris Brown beat up then-girlfriend Rihanna.

The crew of ‘Today Show Thursday’ failed to keep themselves from laughing at the expense of Chris Brown… despite the fact that Brown was going to be their guest on Friday. ‘Today’ weatherman Al Roker, for one, swayed in his seat from laughter. ’Sesame Street’ star Elmo -there to talk about the London Olympics- responded that he’ll try to “make it wholesome.”

According to The Huffington Post, Chris Rock never held back during live broadcasts if he thought a joke was funny. His commentary had previously drawn the ire of Sean Penn, Jay Leno, and several voice actors.

However, Chris Brown is probably considered to be an acceptable target. The Huffington Post noted that this year’s Grammy Awards recently received enormous criticism for heavily featuring Brown, a man did not apologize for -and in fact apparently defended- his previous history of violence.