Months after that Will Smith slap, Chris Rock says he turned down hosting the Oscars next year

The slap that stunned the world. Photo: TNS

Five months after Will Smith slapped him onstage at the Academy Awards, stunning millions watching around the world, Chris Rock delivered another sort of slap back at the Oscars.

Riffing with the crowd at a stand-up show in Phoenix Sunday (Aug 28) night, the comedian said that he was asked to host next year’s Oscars, according to the Arizona Republic. But he turned the offer down, joking that returning to Hollywood’s biggest night would be like returning to a crime scene.