Chris Rock makes dark joke about hosting the 2023 Oscars

Phoenix, Arizona - Comedian Chris Rock is under fire for an off-color joke he made during a recent show that roped in his infamous slap incident from this year's Oscars.

Comedian Chris Rock is under fire for making a dark joke about being asked to host the 2023 Oscars and roping in Nicole Brown Simpson (l) after the infamous Will Smith slap incident.
Comedian Chris Rock is under fire for making a dark joke about being asked to host the 2023 Oscars and roping in Nicole Brown Simpson (l) after the infamous Will Smith slap incident.  © Collage: STF / AFP & Robyn Beck/AFP

The 57-year-old performed at the Arizona Financial Theatre on Sunday night, and he was certainly fired up.

At one point, he reportedly joked about being asked to host next year's Oscars, comparing it to asking Nicole Brown Simpson "to go back to the restaurant" she visited before she was brutally murdered.

The star was referencing the 1995 murder trial of OJ Simpson, Nicole's ex-husband and former football star who was infamously suspected of killing her, but was later acquitted.

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Rock also mentioned that he was offered to do a Super Bowl commercial that mentioned in "the slap heard around the world," which he said he also refused, yet he didn't mention who made the offer.

Rock's commentary comes after this year's Academy Awards in March, where Will Smith slapped him after he made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith.

While Smith's reputation and career have taken a beating and many have sided with Rock over the incident, fans have now taken issue with him mocking the dead and making light of Nicole Simpson's story.

Chris Rock vs. the internet

Many on social media have been condemning Chris Rock's jokes over the Oscars slap incident, further supporting Will Smith (r).
Many on social media have been condemning Chris Rock's jokes over the Oscars slap incident, further supporting Will Smith (r).  © Robyn Beck/AFP

Social media has lit up with many users condemning Rock's joke, especially from those that believed he deserved Smith's volatile reaction.

"I've been on Will Smith's side from the start, and I'd fully support him slapping Chris Rock again," one user shamelessly explained.

Another user took a more moderate stance, stating "Chris Rock's joke about Jada was classless. His joke about Nicole was also classless. It sure seems like Chris Rock is just...classless. It still doesn't mean he should get assaulted for it."

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Some users did come to his defense, simply pointing out that Rock is, and forever will be, a comedian.

"People really thought Chris Rock was gonna stop being a comedian and making jokes because he got slapped?" one supporter asked. "Apparently y'all need to be slapped. Let's see if it stops you from being dumb."

Rock has begun regularly joking about the incident in public, but apparently has expressed no interest in speaking with Smith directly.

Cover photo: Collage: STF / AFP & Robyn Beck/AFP

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