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Chris Rock reveals in Phoenix he was asked to host the Oscars but refused, comparing it to returning to the scene of the crime.
Who can forget that moment during the Oscars ceremony when Will Smith jumped up on stage to slap Chris Rock? The shocking incident happened after Rock made a tasteless joke about Smith’s wife Jada. During a performance in Phoenix, Chris opened up to reveal that he had been asked to host the Oscars, but refused, as he didn’t want to return to the “scene of the crime.”
Chris Rock says he was asked to host the Oscars
It has been several months since Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Oscars stage. However, as noted by AzCentral, Rock revealed during a stand-up performance that the Academy had asked him to host the Oscars again.
Chris, 57, was performing stand-up comedy at the Arizona Financial Theater in Phoenix on Sunday when he made the announcement. Meanwhile, he also revealed why he had declined to host the Oscars again.
Rock previously hosted the Oscars in 2005 and 2016. However, he compared the thought of returning to the Dolby Theater to returning to the scene of a crime. In fact, he quipped that asking him to return as host would be like asking Nicole Brown Simpson, “to go back to the restaurant.” Chris was referencing O.J. Simpson’s late wife.
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Comedian asked to do a Super Bowl commercial
During the performance, Chris also revealed that, in the aftermath of the slap, he had been asked to do a Super Bowl commercial. However, he said he also turned down that opportunity.
Meanwhile, the comedian didn’t reveal the specifics of what company asked him to star in the Super Bowl ad.
During the Phoenix performance, Rock was asked by an audience member to talk about Smith’s slap. However, he admitted that the slap did hurt, adding that Will did play boxing legend, Muhammad Ali, during his career. Rock added during the show:
He’s bigger than me. The state of Nevada would not sanction a fight between me and Will Smith.
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The controversial slap happened at a time in the Oscars event when Rock joked about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Referencing her shaved head, he joked, “Jada, love you. GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.”
While initially, Smith was smiling at Rock’s performance, things changed and he then stormed up on stage. To the surprise of the comedian and the whole audience, he then slapped Chris across the face. As Smith left the stage he made a comment that he should keep his wife’s name out of his [expletive] mouth.
Meanwhile, the reason for Jada’s shaved head is that she has a condition called alopecia, which causes hair loss. Due to this, many believe Rock’s joke was tone-deaf.