Chris Rock has alleged he was offered the hosting role at next year's Oscars ceremony but has turned the opportunity down.
The comedian made the claim five months after he was slapped at this year's event by Will Smith in scenes which shocked the world of showbiz. Actor Will stormed the stage and smacked the comedian in the face on stage after he made a joke at the actor's wife's expense.
According to Arizona Republic, Chris told fans at his Phoenix stand-up gig of the show's approach. He is said to have told the audience that returning to the award ceremony would be like returning to a crime scene.
He jibed how going back to the biggest night in Hollywood would be like asking Nicole Brown Simpson “to go back to the restaurant,” referencing the events that led to her death and the subsequent OJ Simpson murder trial.
Chris is also said to have turned down a post-slap Super Bowl commercial offer.
The incident at this year's event came after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's haircut. He joked about her buzzcut, saying: "Jada, can't wait for GI Jane 2."
Will - who went on to win Best Actor later in the evening - marched onto the stage and whacked the presenter, before returning to his seat and yelling: "Keep my wife's name out of your f****** mouth."
The comedian's joke was a reference to the 1997 movie G.I Jane - which starred Demi Moore sporting a haircut similar to Jada's. She had previously spoken out about her decision to shave her head, after suffering from alopecia.
Will recently made a public apology for his actions, but they are said to have been ignored so far. Despite the incident happening five months ago, Chris has only recently started joking about it after previously keeping quiet.
Last month during comedy show in New Jersey alongside Kevin Hart, he told the audience during a sketch about people being over sensitive: "I'm not a victim, motherf***er," according to US Weekly.
Chris is said to have quipped: "Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face.
"Yeah, that s*** hurt, motherf***er. … But I shook that s*** off and went to work the next day … I don't go to the hospital for a paper cut."
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