Chris Rock claims Ellen DeGeneres was first choice to host this year’s Oscars
Chris Rock has admitted Ellen DeGeneres was the Oscars’ first choice to host this year’s show.
Chris Rock will be taking to the stage two years after Ellen DeGeneres wowed viewers while hosting the show.
Her stint was made even more memorable after she managed to bag herself arguably the most star-studded selfie ever taken – with the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt pulling their best poses.
However, the comedian joked that he wasn’t the Academy’s first candidate for the role – saying they were hoping to tempt DeGeneres back.
“I’m only here because Ellen said no. And I’m sure she said no like eight times,” he quipped.
“She did so good last time she hosted the show, that’s the standard.”
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Rock claimed that he only wanted to present one award at the ceremony – not the whole show.
“I told my agent I wanted to present because it’s like, what’s easier and better than presenting?” he asked.
“You come in, do something really funny and get out of there.”
This year’s awards are shaping up to be the most controversial yet, after a number of stars announced their decision to boycott the ceremony due to a lack of diversity in nominees.
The boycott – also known as #oscarsowhite – comes after it was revealed that none of the nominees for best actor, best actress, best supporting actor or best supporting actress are performers of colour for the second year in a row.
In another bizarre twist to the story, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith were accused of being closeted, gay hypocrites – after announcing they too would not attend.
Trans actress Alexis Arquette blasted the pair, claiming that Smith’s first marriage ended because he was caught having sex with another man and that the couple serve as each other’s ‘beards.’
However, Smith’s first wife was quick to rubbish the claims against her ex-husband, made by the trans actress on social media.
