The 57-year-old comedian told an audience at the Phoenix Comedy Show on Sunday that he had been asked to take part in next year’s event — but declined the opportunity. According to the Arizona Republic, the “Everybody Hates Chris” alum told the crowd that returning to the Oscars would be like asking Nicole Brown Simpson “to go back to the restaurant” where she left her glasses before she killed herself, in a reference to the trial for the murder of OJ Simpson, who was acquitted of the case. The rejection of the hosting duties would come a year after Will Smith, 53, took the stage on March 27 and slapped him at the Academy Awards for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, looking like “GI Jane” because of her bald head. Chris Rock says he was offered hosting duties for next year’s Oscars — but turned down the gig. Getty Images. Corbis via Getty Images The Post has reached out to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for comment. Rock also claimed he was offered — and turned down — a Super Bowl commercial after the slap. At the Academy Awards earlier this year, Will Smith took the stage and slapped Chris Rock after he made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. AFP via Getty Images In May, ABC Entertainment President Craig Erich told Deadline that he was open to Rock returning as host next year. The option, the executive said, would definitely boost ratings. “Obviously there was a lot of controversy [surrounding this year’s broadcast], which overshadowed a lot of the positives of the show, but I was really happy with the program,” said Erich. “It was the biggest bounce of any award this season.” The Rock has previously hosted the Oscars twice: in 2005 and again in 2016. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith arrive at the Oscars on March 27. Wire Image, But according to Smith, Rock is still “not ready” to talk one-on-one about Smackdown 2022. Instead, on July 29, the “King Richard” star publicly apologized to Rock in a nearly six-minute videos on YouTube. “Well, I’ll tell you, Chris, I apologize,” he said with visible remorse. “My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.” The Rock has remained pretty mum about the incident, with the exception of a few comedy appearances over the past few months. “Yeah, that hurts, mom, but I shook it off and went to work the next day,” he declared while performing alongside Kevin Hart and Dave Chappelle at Madison Square Garden in July. “Anyone who says ‘words hurt’ has never been punched in the face.” “I’m not a victim, mom,” the “Grown Ups” star said the next day in Holmdel, New Jersey. “I don’t go to the hospital for a paper cut.” The 2023 Oscars will take place on March 12.
