After the Will Smith slap, Chris Rock turned down to host the 2023 Oscars

Chris Rock reference to Oscar slap

According to the Arizona Republic, Chris Rock compared going back to the Oscars to going back to the crime scene on Sunday during a comedic performance at the Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona.

In an allusion to the 1995 murder trial of O.J. Simpson, the comedian equated the hosting offer to telling the late Nicole Brown Simpson “to go back to the restaurant,” where her mother had placed a set of glasses the night of her death.

The Actor who starred as Muhammad Ali in the 2001 film Ali, but for him Will Smith’s slap did hurt. He also added, 

“He is larger than I am. Nevada’s government would not permit a fight between Will Smith and me.”

Following this, he also rejected his chance to perform in a Super Bowl commercial. Previously he was the host of the Oscars in 2015 and 2016. 

“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,” 

said Kramer, who is the present CEO following the exit of former CEO Dawn Hudson.

What happened at the Oscars night

On March 27, 2022, Oscar night, comedian Chris Rock joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s head as she suffered from alopecia; on this, Will Smith climbed up the stage to the host and slapped him on a live telecast. 

Will Smith, who won the Best Actor Oscar award, faced severe trouble after the slap, which eventually resigned him from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, followed by a 10-year ban from Academy functions.

Will Smith apologized for his act

Will Smith apologized for his mistake, regretted slapping him live on stage, and even extended his apology to his family members and explained his wrongful act in an Instagram video sharing an apology and explanation on July 29. 

Though Chris Rock never commented publically on the assault, he still addressed the slap on his recent comedy tour. 

In his show at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta in July, Chris Rock said everybody is trying to be a f***ing victim; when everybody calls themselves a victim, who is the real victim? As even hit by Will Smith, and the next day went to work as he got kids. He even added

‘Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face.’

Ammaji