Chris Rock told a crowd in Phoenix on Sunday that he was asked to host the Oscars ceremony for next year, and he turned it down.

Rock joked during his stand-up set, according to the Arizona Republic, that returning to the Oscars stage would be like returning to the scene of a crime. And he made a reference to the OJ Simpson murder trial, saying that it would be like asking Nicole Brown Simpson “to go back to the restaurant.”

Of he’s talking about getting slapped on stage by Will Smith earlier this year. That move got Smith banned from the Oscars for 10 years. 

Rock also said he has since been offered the chance to appear in a Super Bowl commercial but, turned down that request as well.

The Academy does want to have a host for next year’s Oscars on March 12th of 2023, but it will be a while before any names are tossed out there. 

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