Chris Rock Addresses Possible Oscars Hosting Return
Chris Rock isn’t ruling out a return to the Academy Awards stage just yet.
Three years after the shocking moment when Will Smith stormed onstage and slapped the veteran comedian during the live Oscars broadcast—retaliating for a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head—Rock was asked if he’d ever consider hosting Hollywood’s biggest night again.
Speaking with E! News at the annual Vanity Fair Oscars Party, the “Spiral” star vaguely responded, “You never know.”
Reflecting on the power of letting go, he added, “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.”
When pressed on whether he has fully moved past the infamous March 27, 2022, incident, Rock’s response was simple but powerful: “I live in forgiveness. True love starts at forgiveness.”
Following the incident, Smith—who later that evening won his first-ever Academy Award for his performance in “King Richard”—faced significant fallout. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences banned him from attending any of its events, including the Oscars, for the next 10 years.
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In the aftermath, Smith took to social media to publicly address the controversy. He uploaded a nearly six-minute video to both his Instagram and YouTube channels, in which he offered a direct apology to Rock, acknowledged his actions, and expressed deep regret over the situation.
The actor also explained why he hadn’t immediately apologized to Rock during his Oscar acceptance speech, admitting that he had been emotionally overwhelmed at the time.
“I was fogged out,” Smith said in the video. He then addressed Rock directly, offering a heartfelt apology. “I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable, and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk,” he stated.
The star also extended his apologies to Rock's family, specifically mentioning his mother, Rose, and his younger brother, comedian Tony Rock.
