Chris Rock has mentioned he was requested by the Academy to host subsequent 12 months’s Oscars, however turned the chance after he was infamously slapped by Will Smith throughout this 12 months’s ceremony.
Because the Arizona Republic experiences, throughout a stand-up present in Phoenix over the weekend, Rock mentioned he refused the invitation and joked that it might be like asking Nicole Brown Simpson “to return to the restaurant” she ate at on the night she was murdered at her Los Angeles house.
Rock additionally reportedly mentioned that he had been provided to star in a Tremendous Bowl industrial following the incident, however turned that down as nicely – and famous that Smith’s slap was bodily painful. “He’s greater than me,” Rock mentioned of the Ali star. “The state of Nevada wouldn’t sanction a combat between me and Will Smith.”
Through the 2022 Oscars in March, Rock walked onstage and slapped Rock within the face after the comic made a joke about Smith’s spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith. Rock, who was presenting an award, in contrast Pinkett Smith – who has alopecia – to Demi Moore’s character in G.I. Jane. “Preserve my spouse’s title out your fucking mouth,” Smith yelled at Rock after returning to the stage.
The day after the altercation, Smith shared an announcement publicly apologising to Rock, the Academy, his household and the solid and crew of King Richard – the movie Smith had gained a Greatest Actor award for the earlier night. Smith later introduced his resignation from the Academy, and he was banned from all Academy occasions for a decade.
In July, 4 months after slapping Rock on the Oscars, Smith shared a five-minute-long apology video during which he mentioned he had been “doing plenty of pondering and private work”. He added that he had reached out to Rock, however that the message got here that again was that he was “not prepared to speak and when he’s, he’ll attain out”.
Rock has referenced the incident a number of instances in his stand-up performances since. Throughout a set in Boston shortly after the altercation, the comic advised the viewers he was “nonetheless sort of processing what occurred”.
In Could, Rock joined Dave Chappelle throughout a stand-up present in Los Angeles, shortly after Chappelle was attacked onstage whereas showing on the Hollywood Bowl. The 2 comedians each joked about their respective incidents. Earlier this month, throughout a set in Atlanta, Rock joked that he had been slapped by “Suge Smith” throughout the altercation, referencing former Demise Row CEO Suge Knight.