Chris Rock has revealed that his return to the Academy Awards stage would depend on a singular condition: an acting nomination.
The comedian, who was infamously slapped by Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars, expressed that the incident has overshadowed much of his subsequent work. In a recent interview with Variety, Rock stated his desire for the focus to be on his current film projects, such as "Misty Green," which he directed and stars Anna Kendrick and Adam Driver.
"I wish nothing would have happened," Rock said. "And also, I don't want to say anything that takes any attention away from Rosalind [Green] and how good she is in this movie."
Rock directed "Misty Green," a film about an actress striving for a career resurgence. He reflected on the incident's broader context, noting the multitude of global issues that exist, making his personal negative experience seem less significant in comparison.
Prior to the 2022 event, Rock had a history with the Oscars, having hosted in 2005 and 2016. When asked about potentially hosting again, he deflected, expressing respect for those who have been selected for the role, mentioning Conan O'Brien and Nikki Glaser as talented hosts.
"I'm not going to say never, but my time might have passed, honestly," Rock stated. "I'm not getting nominated. The only way I'll go back is if I'm nominated, and I'm not getting nominated. And that's OK. We'll deal with that if it happens. Like, let's manage expectations."
The 2022 altercation occurred when Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith's shaved head, which is attributed to alopecia. Smith, who won the Best Actor award that same night, was subsequently banned from attending the Oscars ceremony for 10 years and voluntarily resigned from the Academy. He later apologized for his actions via social media, acknowledging that he was out of line and that his behavior was not indicative of the man he aspires to be.
Rock has previously commented on the physical impact of the incident. In an interview with "Good Morning America" a year later, he remarked, "Anybody that says words hurt has never been punched in the face."
Will Smith's co-star, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, recently defended Smith's actions in an interview with The Daily Beast's Obsessed podcast. She stated, "I think that, you know, this idea that First Amendment rights should protect everybody? I don't think it should necessarily protect a**holes. I don't. I don't. I really don't, especially if you're causing harm."
During the Oscars incident, Rock's joke was, "Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2, can't wait to see it!" Pinkett-Smith was visibly unamused, and her reaction prompted Smith's onstage response. After being struck, Rock exclaimed, "Wow. Will Smith just smacked the st out of me." Smith, upon returning to his seat, shouted at Rock to "Keep my wife's name out of your f*ing mouth!"