View gallery
Chris Rock, 57, admitted to declining a request for him to return as host for the 2023 Academy Awards, based on the Arizona Republic. The comic apparently in contrast returning to the stage on the Oscars, the place he was slapped by Will Smith final yr, as returning to the scene of a criminal offense, throughout his comedy present on the Arizona Monetary Theatre in Phoenix, AZ. He additionally referenced the 1995 homicide trial of O.J. Simpson when he reportedly famous it will be like asking the late Nicole Brown Simpson to return “to return to the restaurant” the place she left a pair of eyeglasses the night time of her dying.
Chris additionally reportedly talked in regards to the precise slap earlier in his set that night time when he stated it damage and referenced how the actor performed the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali in a film. “He’s larger than me,” Chris stated, the outlet additional reported. “The state of Nevada wouldn’t sanction a combat between me and Will Smith.”
Chris’ newest remarks at his latest comedy present aren’t the primary ones he’s made in regards to the now notorious slap. He’s been identified to discuss the memorable second at a number of of his comedy exhibits for the reason that incident occurred in March. At a present in New Jersey in July, he reportedly stated he wasn’t “a sufferer” and added, “Yeah, that s**t damage, motherf**ker. I shook that s**t off and went to work the following day… I don’t go to the hospital for a papercut.”
In July, Will broke his silence by taking to his YouTube web page to share a video wherein he publicly apologized for the slap. “I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that got here again is that he’s not prepared to speak and when he’s, he’ll attain out. So I’ll I’ll say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My conduct was unacceptable,” he stated whereas sitting and searching straight on the digicam, within the video.
“I need to apologize to Chris’s mom,” he continued. “I noticed an interview that Chris’s mom did. And that was one of many issues about that second I simply didn’t notice. I wasn’t pondering however how many individuals obtained damage in that second. So I need to apologize to Chris’s mom. I need to apologize to Chris’s household. Particularly Tony Rock. We had an awesome relationship. Tony Rock was my man. And this most likely irreparable.”
