Chris Rock Asked To Host Oscars 2023; Turned Down Post-Slap Super Bowl Ad

Chris Rock would not return to the Academy Awards stage anytime soon because it would be like "returning to the scene of a crime."

During the 57-year-old veteran comedian's night show at Arizona Financial Theatre in downtown Phoenix on Sunday, he shared that the Academy Awards had offered him to host next year's ceremony, be he declined, according to the Arizona Republic. He was also invited to feature in a Super Bowl commercial but declined it as well.

Rock claimed that the long-running awarding ceremony was like a crime scene, which he also reportedly compared to the murder trial of former American football player O.J. Simpson in 1994 for stabbing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson because she had left a pair of eyeglasses at an Italian restaurant.

The "Grown Up" star said it would be "like asking Nicole Brown Simpson to go back to the restaurant."

While briefly referencing the controversial slapping incident, the sold-out Arizona crowd was eager for the comedian to speak up about it. Someone even shouted for him to "talk about it."

Rock said that the slap from Will Smith hurt, referencing how the 53-year-old "Fresh Prince" star once "played" the legendary 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."

The 2022 Academy Awards was one of the most talked-about events of the year due to the altercation between Rock and Smith. During the ceremony, Rock joked about Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head before presenting an award. Rock jokingly suggested that Jada went bald for a movie, saying, "'G.I. Jane 2'? Can't wait to see it."

The joke offended Smith, causing him to walk up the stage and hardly hit Rock on the face before returning to his seat and shouting at Rock never to mention Jada's name again.

At that time, Rock was unaware that the 50-year-old actress was diagnosed with alopecia, a medical condition that causes sudden hair loss.

In May, ABC Entertainment President Craig Erwich said the next awarding ceremony would be "even better." But he also noted that despite the controversial incident, he still thought this year's show was "really successful."

"My assessment of the Oscars was that it was really a successful year for the show. Obviously, there was a lot of [controversies], which overshadowed a lot of the positive things about the show, but I was really happy with the program," Erwich told Deadline. He continued, "Even before that very unfortunate moment, the show started off up year over year, and we came back in a big way."

Smith got banned from the Academy Awards for 10 years as a disciplinary action for the incident. The organization said it's for the safety of the performers and guests and to restore "trust in the Academy."

In late July, Smith posted an apology video for Rock on his official YouTube channel. "Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable, and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk," he said. The video garnered 3.7 million views, about 29 thousand comments, and 115 thousand likes.

The 95th Annual Academy Awards would reportedly air live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. Nominations would be announced by Jan. 24, 2023.