Chris Rock hasn't shied away from any public appearances – or speaking out – since the now infamous 2022 Oscars, when Will Smith walked up on stage and slapped him.
MORE: Will Smith jokes about difficulty of returning to social media after Oscars slap
Though the comedian has appeared to try his best to move on from the incident, continuing with his stand-up shows and even joking about the altercation, one stage he isn't quite ready to face again is the very own Oscars' stage.
During one of his own comedy shows on Sunday, 29 August, Chris opened up about where he stands with the Academy, and made the shocking revelation that he had been offered the hosting position for the next year's awards show.
WATCH: Chris stars in Amsterdam
MORE: Chris Rock shares exciting personal news after Will Smith's emotional apology video
The confession came during his stand-up show at the Arizona Financial Theatre in downtown Phoenix, and was first reported by the Arizona Republic.
Per the publication, the 57-year-old revealed that he had been asked by the Academy to host the 2023 Oscars, though he declined the offer.
It would have been Chris' third time hosting the awards ceremony. He previously led the show in 2005 and 2016.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe shocking altercation ocurred when Chris was presenting the award for best documentary feature
According to the Arizona Republic, the star referenced the trial of O.J. Simpson when joking about him declining the offer, stating that accepting the hosting gig would be like returning to the scene of the crime.
MORE: Chris Rock responds to Will Smith's apology: 'I went to work the next day'
Meanwhile, though Will has officially began making his return to the public specter and is once again active on social media, he for one will not be returning to the Oscars for at least a decade.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe comedian was most recently revealed to be dating actress Lake Bell
Shortly after the altercation, the Academy's board of governors banned the actor from returning to the Oscars or attending any other Academy events for the next ten years, a week after he publicly resigned from the organization.
What's more, earlier this month, newly appointed Academy CEO Bill Kramer stated that though there is already a search in place to find a new host – the Oscars have in recent years opted to conduct the show without a host – he maintained that there would be no mention or jokes about the infamous slap.
Read more HELLO! US stories here
Like this story? Sign up to our newsletter to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.
