Comedian Chris Rock has received criticism after joking about the murder of OJ Simpson’s wife Nicole Brown Simpson in relation to Will Smith slapping him at this year’s Oscars while speaking about being invited to host the Oscars in 2023. 

Chris Rock reportedly made the quip during his Ego Death stand-up comedy tour in Phoenix, Arizona last Sunday when he revealed he had turned down an offer to host next year’s Academy Awards saying returning to the Oscars would be like asking Nicole Brown Simpson “to go back to the restaurant,” referencing the events that led to both her and waiter Ron Goldman’s deaths, leading to the infamous OJ Simpson murder trial.

Rock was infamously slapped by Will Smith at this year’s Oscars after making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith while presenting an award. Will’s action was condemned around the globe, as it won Chris a lot of sympathy but his latest joke seems to have lost him that sympathy as it was met with furious backlash in cyber world.

“So he’s using a woman’s misfortune for comedic effect again. I’m seeing a pattern.”  Said an IG comment.

“The more Chris Rock talks, the more you begin to see why Will Smith smacked fire outta him,” wrote one Twitter user whose tweet has received over 16,000 likes.

“Nicole Brown Simpson was murdered & nearly decapitated. How is that in any way comparable to being slapped?” fumed another.

Even Simpson’s sister Tanya Brown described the joke as “distasteful.”