Chris Rock revealed he\u2019ll only return to the Oscars if he\u2019s up for an award.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not getting nominated. The only way I\u2019ll go back is if I\u2019m nominated, and I\u2019m not getting nominated,\u201d\u00a0Rock \u2014 who was famously slapped by Will Smith<\/a> at the 2022 Oscars \u2014 said in a Variety interview<\/a> published Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that\u2019s OK. We\u2019ll deal with that if it happens,\u201d the comedian added. \u201cLike, let\u2019s manage expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n Following the infamous Will Smith slap at the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony (pictured above), Chris Rock said he\u2019ll only return to the Oscars if he\u2019s nominated. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n Rock told Variety: \u201cThe only way I\u2019ll go back is if I\u2019m nominated, and I\u2019m not getting nominated.\u201d Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n Rock, 61, hosted the Oscars twice, in 2005 and 2016, and presented at the annual award show multiple times, including the year he was assaulted by Smith, 57.<\/p>\n The infamous moment saw Smith\u00a0lash out\u00a0<\/a>over Rock\u2019s\u00a0joke about Jada Pinkett Smith\u2019s bald head<\/a> at the 2022 event. (Pinkett Smith has struggled with alopecia<\/a> for years.)<\/p>\n Smith \u2014 who won the the best actor award for \u201cKing Richard\u201d later that night after the slap \u2014 was\u00a0banned from the Academy Awards<\/a>, and all Academy events, for a decade.<\/p>\n Rock, meanwhile, hasn\u2019t been back to the Oscars since.<\/p>\n Rock (seen here at the 2022 ceremony before the slap) indicated that he\u2019ll never host the Oscars again, after doing so in 2005 and 2016. AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n Rock (pictured here) also said he wishes \u201cnothing would have happened\u201d when he was asked about the slap. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n In his Variety interview, Rock was asked how he feels about the slap four years later, admitting that he wishes \u201cnothing would have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd also, I don\u2019t want to say anything that takes any attention away from Rosalind [Eleazar] and how good she is in this movie,\u201d Rock continued, referencing his new film \u201cMisty Green\u201d that he directed.<\/p>\n The \u201cSNL\u201d alum added, \u201cIt\u2019s a crazy world. We walk by homeless people. There\u2019s all sorts of shit going on right now. Me having a bad day is not the biggest \u2014 it\u2019s not that important.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe having a bad day is not the biggest \u2014 it\u2019s not that important,\u201d Rock (seen here in New York City on Aug. 30) said in the interview. Christopher Peterson \/ SplashNews.com<\/p>\n Rock (pictured here) also told Variety he didn\u2019t want to talk about the slap because it would take attention away from his new movie, \u201cMisty Green.\u201d BrosNYC \/ BACKGRID<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tWant more celebrity and pop culture news?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with Page Six Daily.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Rock also indicated that he\u2019ll never host the show again.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen people answer those questions, they\u2019re being disrespectful to the people that got the gig,\u201d\u00a0he told the outlet. \u201cThey have great hosts. Conan O\u2019Brien is amazing. Nikki Glaser is amazing on the Golden Globes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not going to say never, but my time might have passed, honestly,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Rock (seen here at the 2026 NBA Finals Game 2 on May 21) hasn\u2019t been back to the Oscars since the 2022 incident with Smith. Charles Wenzelberg \/ New York Post<\/p>\n Rock (seen here in New York City on June 18) previously poked fun at the slap in his 2023 Netflix comedy special. Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n Rock previously addressed the incident during his 2023 Netflix comedy special,<\/a> insisting he\u2019s \u201cnot a victim.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou will never see me on Oprah [Winfrey] or Gayle [King] crying,\u201d Rock said. \u201cNever going to happen \u2026 I took that hit like [boxer Manny] Pacquiao. I took it like motherf\u2013king Pacquiao. Did it hurt? Yeah, motherf\u2013ker, it hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n