Chris Rock reportedly told an audience that he was offered to host the Academy Awards for next year’s award show after Will Smith infamously slapped him on stage during this year’s ceremony. He claims he turned down the offer.
Rock hosted the Oscars twice before in 2015 and 2016.
According to ABC7, the 57 year old comedian joked to an audience in Phoenix Sunday night that it would be like returning to a crime scene. He jokingly compared it to the OJ Simpson case, where his ex-wife’s murder began with her leaving glasses at a restaurant, saying returning to the Oscars would be like asking Nicole Brown Simpson “to go back to the restaurant.”
The incident Rock refers to is when Will Smith stormed the stage and slapped the comedian after he made a joke about Smith’s wife’s appearance. The actor remained in the theater and took the stage later in the evening to accept the award for Best Actor.
Smith resigned from the Academy and received a 10-year ban from the award ceremony.
The Academy has not commented on the issue.
Rock also mentioned he turned down a Super Bowl commercial as well.