Do not be expecting Chris Rock to be opening up in regards to the notorious Oscars slap anytime quickly. ET spoke with January Harrison, founding father of January Designs and Creations, who was once in attendance at Rock’s display in Phoenix on Sunday, the place she mentioned he now not handiest mentioned the incident between him and Will Smith on the 2022 Academy Awards, however was once adamant about now not talking publicly in regards to the slap.
As many will take into account, it was once on the Academy Awards that Smith slapped Rock within the face after he made a funny story about Jada Pinkett Smith earlier than presenting the award for Easiest Documentary Characteristic.
Harrison mentioned that Rock instructed the target market that Oprah Winfrey requested him to do a sit-down interview together with her to speak about the incident, however he declined.
“Throughout the night, he did describe that he declined an be offering to move onto Oprah to do to a sit-down interview or even a Tremendous Bowl business with Will Smith himself,” Harrison shared. “He mentioned, ‘You aren’t gonna see me on any interviews crying my center out about this. I’m really not going to be a sufferer.'”
Total, Harrison mentioned the target market appeared happy that Rock mentioned the Oscars slap, including, “I feel we had been all questioning if he was once going to discuss that incident or now not.”
Rock additionally printed Sunday that he was once additionally introduced the function of host at subsequent yr’s Oscars. Consistent with more than one eyewitnesses, Rock, who has hosted the awards display two times — as soon as in 2005 and once more in 2016 — instructed the target market that he was once requested to host subsequent yr’s display, however refused.
“Chris Rock mentioned he was once requested to host subsequent yr’s Academy Awards at his Sunday night time display at Arizona Monetary Theatre, and that he refused the be offering,” one eyewitness shared. “He additionally famous that he was once introduced the risk to do a Tremendous Bowl business that he additionally declined.”
The eyewitness additionally instructed ET that Rock in comparison internet hosting the Oscars to returning to the scene of a criminal offense, referencing the homicide trial of O.J. Simpson, who was once accused of killing his spouse, Nicole Brown Simpson.
“Chris joked that returning to the Oscars could be like returning to the scene of the crime and mentioned that it will be very similar to asking Nicole Brown Simpson to return to the Italian eating place the place she left her glasses,” the eyewitness added.
He endured to make mild of the incident, even though he did admit that obtaining hit by way of Smith harm, much more than phrases do. Calling Smith “Suge Smith,” some other eyewitness mentioned Rock talked in regards to the incident for “a couple of mins in a joking manner” however saved his references to it “quick and stylish.”
On July 29, Smith shared a deeply non-public video message to social media wherein he apologized to Rock and the comic’s circle of relatives, in addition to his personal friends and family, for the now-infamous Oscars slap scandal.
He additionally printed that he had reached out to Rock. On the other hand, “the message that got here again,” Smith mentioned, was once that the comic was once now not able to speak and would achieve out when he’s.
It kind of feels like Smith could also be ready some time, with a supply telling ET following Smith’s apology, that Rock has no plans to talk with the King Richard famous person.
The supply mentioned that Smith would like not anything greater than for Rock to publicly settle for his apology, however Smith should wait on it.
“Chris has no plans to achieve out to Will,” mentioned the supply, who additionally believes that the timing of the apology is extra for Smith’s very best hobby. “He wishes the general public’s forgiveness, now not Chris’.”
Whilst Rock is hitting the degree for his ongoing comedy excursion, the awards display degree isn’t one he is able to step again on. Actually, this is not the primary awards display alternative Rock has became down. Remaining month, ET discovered that the comic declined an be offering to host the 2022 Emmy Awards.
The supply printed that Rock was once approached to host this yr’s Emmy’s however became down the activity. “He is in the course of his excursion and is getting ready for the taping of his comedy particular, which can be taping this autumn,” the supply mentioned.
However that isn’t all. The supply added that Rock is “over” Hollywood and is hoping to go back and forth and lie low after his comedy excursion.
For extra on Rock, take a look at the video underneath.
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