Chris Rock Says He Declined An Offer To Host 2023 Oscars Following Will Smith’s Infamous Slap

Chris Rock, Will Smith

Chris Rock Says He Declined An Offer To Host 2023 Oscars Following Will Smith’s Infamous Slap

Chris Rock has no intentions on hosting the Oscars anytime soon.

Reports state that actor and comedian Chris Rock turned down an invitation to host the 2023 Academy Awards after he was slapped by Will Smith during the ceremony back in March. According to reports, on Sunday (Aug. 28) Chris Rock compared attending the Oscars to returning to the scene of a crime. The actor referenced O.J Simpson’s 1995 murder trail, saying that it would be like asking deceased Nicole Brown Simpson “to go back to the restaurant,” where heer mother left a pair of glasses the night she died.

The 57-year-old implied that Will Smith’s slap itself referring to the role Smith played in 2001’s movie Ali. He explained:

“He’s bigger than me. The state of Nevada would not sanction a fight between me and Will Smith.”

chris rock

Rock, who previously hosted the Oscars in 2005 and 2016, stated that he also declined an opportunity to appear in a Super Bowl advertisement following the incident. The Academy Award CEO, Bill Kramer, said that the ceremony had no intentions on revisiting the incident at next year’s show. Bill Kramer said:

“We want to move forward and to have an Oscars that celebrates cinema. That’s our focus right now, but it’s really about moving forward.” 

As previously reported, King Richard actor Will Smith publicly apologized for slapping Rock after he made a G.I Jane joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. Smith said:

“I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk. And when he is, he will reach out. So I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable. and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”

Rock referenced the slap on stage during his latest comedy tour. Back in July he said:

“Everybody is trying to be a f*ck*ng victim.” 

He continued:

“If everybody claims to be a victim, then nobody will hear the real victims. Even me getting smacked by Suge Smith … I went to work the next day, I got kids.” 

He added:

“Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face.”

What are your thoughts on Chris Rock denying an invitation to host next year’s Oscars ceremony? Share it with us in the comment section below.

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