I understand where Chris Rock is coming from.
It is obvious that Academy wants to use him for ratings and others want to use him for various reasons. Unless the money is crazy, it makes sense why he would turn down these offers. They are trying to make him into a clown show.
Chris Rock, the comedian who was famously slapped by actor Will Smith during the 2022 Academy Awards, said during his Sunday night show in Phoenix that he was asked to host next year’s award ceremony, an invitation he said he refused.
Rock also said during his show at Arizona Financial Theatre in downtown Phoenix that he had been offered the chance to do a Super Bowl commercial, but profanely said he refused that as well.
Rock compared returning to the Oscars like returning to the scene of a crime, referencing the murder trial of O.J. Simpson, whose ex-wife’s killing began with her leaving a pair of eyeglasses at an Italian restaurant.
Rock said returning to the award ceremony would be like asking Nicole Brown Simpson “to go back to the restaurant.”
The slap during the March ceremony was referenced briefly and early during the comedian’s approximately 90-minute show on Sunday, though the sold-out crowd seemed primed to hear him address it.
As Rock mentioned how a person could get famous for being a victim, someone in the crowd shouted, “Talk about it.”
Rock said that the hit from Smith hurt, referencing how Smith had played the boxer Muhammad Ali in a movie.
“He’s bigger than me,” Rock said. “The state of Nevada would not sanction a fight between me and Will Smith.”
Will Smith has apologized, but until Jada Pinkett apologizes for her role in the slap, I don’t think Chris will be speaking to either of them any time soon.
She took offense to his harmless joke that cost Will Smith so much.
Flip the page for all the times Jada has embarrassed Will.