Chris Rock asked to host the Oscars again

Chris Rock says he was asked to host the Academy Awards next year after he was slapped on stage by fellow actor Will Smith while presenting an award on stage at the ceremony in March.

Chris Rock hosted the Oscars in 2005 and 2016, and revealed the invite during a stand-up show in Phoenix.

Rock says he turned it down, along with a Super Bowl commercial.

He said the slap from Smith "hurt”.

"He's bigger than me," Rock said. "The state of Nevada would not sanction a fight between me and Will Smith."

Smith walked on stage at the Oscars and hit the comedian in the face after he made a joke about Smith's wife's shaved head.

Jada Pinkett Smith suffers hair loss due to alopecia, an autoimmune condition that can lead to hair loss.

Smith is banned from Academy related events for 10 years and apologized. In a video last month, the actor said he was deeply remorseful about the incident.

Will Smith says that he has reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he's not ready to talk and when he is, he will reach out. So I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behaviour was unacceptable and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk.

[Source:BBC]