Will Smith slap behind Chris Rock opting out of 2023 Oscars

COMEDIAN Chris Rock has hinted at how Will Smith’s Oscar slap has possibly left him traumatised as he explained why he refused an offer to host next year’s award ceremony.

During his stand-up comedy show in Phoenix, Arizona, the 57-year-old addressed the slap again, reports aceshowbiz.com.

The Saturday Night Live alum said he had been asked to host the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony, but he turned down the offer, comparing returning to the event to returning to a crime scene.

Rock allegedly referenced the murder trial of OJ Simpson, accused of killing his former wife Nicole Brown Simpson but later acquitted. During the trial, it was argued that her murder began with Nicole leaving a pair of glasses at an Italian restaurant. Rock said returning to the award ceremony would be like asking Nicole “to go back to the restaurant”.

He also received an offer to do a Super Bowl commercial following the incident, but he “profanely” refused.

Rock has not formally addressed the slap, but he didn’t shy away from the topic during his tour. Saying how a person could get famous for being a victim, someone in the sold-out concert asked Rock to “talk about it”.

Replying, the Grown Ups star said the blow from Smith hurt. “He’s bigger than me. The state of Nevada wouldn’t sanction a fight between me and Will.”

Smith has apologised again for slapping Rock at the March ceremony after the comic joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. In a video, the 53-year-old said he was “deeply remorseful” and claimed: “I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk; when he is, he will reach out. So I will say to you, Chris, ‘I apologise to you’. My behaviour was unacceptable. I’m here whenever you are ready to talk.”

Smith also apologised to Rock’s mother and the entire family: “I just didn’t realise how many people got hurt.”

Rock has not responded to Smith’s public apology. |