Chris Rock may be open to hosting the Academy Awards again, despite the infamous 2022 Oscars slap from Will Smith.
Speaking with E! News at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party, Rock was asked whether he would consider helming the prestigious event in the future.
“You never know,” Rock responded. “This is what I would say—the most miserable people on earth are people that can’t forgive. And not just people—you have to forgive yourself sometimes. So, hey, you never know.”
He added, “I live in forgiveness. True love starts at forgiveness.”
Revisiting the 2022 Oscars Slap
During the 2022 Academy Awards, Will Smith shocked the world when he walked onstage and slapped Rock across the face during his presentation for Best Documentary Feature. The altercation stemmed from Rock’s joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, a result of her battle with alopecia.
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Smith, who won Best Actor that night, later issued multiple apologies. In a July 2022 Instagram video, he addressed Rock directly:
“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. I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable.”
The Academy responded by banning Smith from the Oscars and related events for 10 years.
Rock’s Response and His Brother’s Vow for Payback
While Rock initially stayed silent, he finally addressed the slap in his 2023 Netflix special, “Selective Outrage.”
“It still hurts! I got ‘Summertime’ ringing in my ears. But I’m not a victim, baby… I took that hit like [Manny] Pacquiao.”
However, Chris Rock’s brother, Tony Rock, has been less forgiving. During a stand-up set at Funny Bone in Virginia Beach, Tony vowed payback:
“I can’t leave until I do this last thing on my list… I have to get Will Smith. Oh yeah. Y’all thought that shit was over? That shit ain’t over.”
Could Rock Return to the Oscars Stage?
Despite the controversy, Rock’s openness to forgiveness has fans wondering if he’ll return as an Oscars host in the future. Given the Academy’s history of bringing back past hosts, his potential comeback could be a headline-making moment.
Would you like to see Chris Rock host the Oscars again? Let us know your thoughts!
