comedian Chris Rock announced that he turned down an offer submitted by the Hollywood Academy. Oscar next yearHe was the last to surrender these awards with a slap that Will Smith gave him a short time later.
Rock spoke about the proposal during a monologue show held at the Arizona Financial Theater in Phoenix (Arizona, United States) this Sunday, which resonated with the Arizona Republic media. The comedian said he turned down the offer because it would be like “going back to the crime scene”, comparing it to the murder he committed against former football player OJ Simpson’s wife, Nicole Brown. “It would be like asking Nicole Brown Simpson to go back to the restaurant,” said Rock, referring to the crime the former athlete committed after leaving a glass in an Italian restaurant.
The Rock described the blow he dealt himself Will Smith is leading his show in Phoenix, which is part of his ‘Ego Death’ tour that started last April. With a packed hall for his hour-and-a-half show, The Rock started talking about how a person can become famous after being a victim. Then, according to the Arizona Reporter, an audience member asked him to “speak” and Rock told the story. And the comedian also assured that the blow Smith inflicted on him caused him physical pain, since the Oscar-winning actor was “bigger” and fatter than him. “The state of Nevada won’t allow a fight between me and Will Smith,” he joked.
Rock also stated that during his show he was approached to appear in a commercial for the next edition of the Super Bowl, and although he did not reveal what brand the ad was for, he declined.
At the final Oscar premiere on March 27, Will Smith reacts violently to Chris Rock joke about the illness of his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, that caused him to get up, perform at the Dolby Theatre, and slap the Rock alive. Rock came out to present the award for best documentary and made a joke about Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, who publicly admitted that he suffered from hair loss and compared him to Lieutenant O’Neil in the Ridley Scott movie.
At the end of July, Smith released a video in which he apologized to the comedian for what had happened and urged his wife to reconcile them after different public appearances. “Chris, I’m sorry. My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here to talk whenever you want,” Smith said later. In addition, in April, the Academy Board of Directors, They can veto their participation in Oscar ceremonies and other events organized by this institution for the next ten years.. A week ago, the actor had already resigned from being a part of the Academy, which rejected his immediate expulsion as the main sanction.