Chris Rock: I'm only presenting The Oscars because Ellen DeGeneres said no

The comedian joked that DeGeneres turned down the opportunity
Second choice: Chris Rock
Caroline McCredie/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
Emma Powell25 February 2016
The Weekender

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Chris Rock has said the only reason he is hosting the Oscars is because Ellen DeGeneres turned down the job.

Rock, 51, is hosting the Academy Awards on Sunday night and said DeGeneres has set a “standard”.

Speaking about the talk show star, who has hosted the ceremony twice, Rock told The Hollywood Reporter: “I’m only here because Ellen didn’t want to do the show. I’m only here because Ellen said no.

“She did so good the last time she hosted the show. That’s kind of a standard. I don’t do what she does but I can admire it.”

Oscar nominations 2016

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Speaking about his role as presenter the comedian said: “I told my agent ‘I want to present’ because it's like, what's easier and better than presenting? You come in, do something really funny and get out of there or do a pretty decent monologue.

“If you get off on the wrong foot though, it’s a real hard hole to dig yourself out of.”

Rock has been embroiled in the #OscarsSoWhite debate following the lack of non-white nominees in the main acting categories with 50 Cent and Tyrese Gibson calling on him to stand down from hosting.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Gibson said: "There is no joke that he can crack.

"There is no way for him to seize the moment and come into this thing and say, 'I'm going to say this and say that I'm going to address the issue but then I'm still going to keep my gig as the host'.

"The statement that you make is that you step down."

The 88th Academy Awards take place at Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre on Sunday, February 28.

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