Chris Rock Says He Turned Down An Offer To Host 2023 Oscars After Will Smith Slap

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Chris Rock57 years old, admitted to turning down his request to return as host for the 2023 Oscars, according to Republic of Arizona. The comedian clearly compared his return to the stage at the Oscars, where he was slapped Will Smith last year, while back at the crime scene, during his comedy show at the Arizona Financial Theater in Phoenix, AZ. He also references the 1995 murder trial of OJ Simpson when he was reported to note that it was like asking the late Nicole Brown Simpson to come back “to return to the restaurant” where she had left a pair of eyeglasses on the night of her death.

Chris also talked about the actual slap earlier on his set that night when he said it hurt and referenced how the actor played the legendary boxer. Muhammad Ali in a movie. Chris added: “He’s older than me. “The state of Nevada will not punish a fight between me and Will Smith.”

Chris’ latest comments at his recent comedy show aren’t the first ones he’s made about the now-infamous slap. He’s been known to talk about memorable moments at some of his comedy shows since the incident in March. At a show in New Jersey in July, he said that he’s not a “victim” and adds, “Yeah, it doesn’t hurt, mom. I shake that thing off and go to work the next day… I don’t go to the hospital to cut the paper. “

In July, Will broke his silence by taking to his YouTube page to share a video in which he publicly apologized for the slap. “I contacted Chris and the message was returned that he is not ready to talk and when that happens, he will be in touch. So I’ll tell you, Chris, I’m sorry. My behavior is unacceptable,” he said as he sat and looked directly into the camera, in the video.

“I want to apologize to Chris’ mother,” he continued. “I was watching an interview that Chris’ mom did. And that’s one of the things about that moment that I didn’t realize. I don’t think but how many people were injured in that moment. So I’d like to apologize to Chris’s mother. I would like to apologize to Chris’ family. Especially Tony Rock. We had a great relationship. Tony Rock is my man. And this is probably not fixable.”