Because the 2023 Oscars method, the Academy is making ready for any controversy that might come its means—together with a repeat of final yr’s notorious slap. For the primary time in its 95-year historical past, meaning hiring an Olivia Pope-like presence, Academy CEO Invoice Kramer mentioned in a current interview.
“We’ve got an entire disaster workforce, one thing we’ve by no means had earlier than, and plenty of plans in place,” Kramer instructed Time journal. “We’ve run many situations. So it’s our hope that we’ll be ready for something that we could not anticipate proper now however that we’re planning for simply in case it does occur.”
After all, the final main unanticipated occasion on the Oscars was when Will Smith stormed the stage to slap Chris Rock throughout the face after the comic made an unsavory joke about Smith’s spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith, whereas presenting the Oscar for greatest documentary function. Moments later, Smith received a best-actor Oscar for King Richard. He stayed on the Oscars for the rest of the ceremony, though the Academy says that Smith was requested to depart. Rock declined to press prices over the incident, however Smith was subsequently banned from attending the awards present for the subsequent 10 years.
“Due to [the slap] final yr, we’ve opened our minds to the numerous issues that may occur on the Oscars,” Kramer continued. “However these disaster plans—the disaster communication groups and constructions we’ve in place—permit us to say that is the group that we’ve to assemble in a short time. That is how all of us come collectively. That is the spokesperson. This would be the assertion. And clearly relying on the specifics of the disaster, and let’s hope one thing doesn’t occur and we by no means have to make use of these, however we have already got frameworks in place that we are able to modify.”
The Academy chief’s sentiments echo that of group president Janet Yang, who instructed attendees on the current 2023 Oscar nominees luncheon that the Academy’s response to the slap was “insufficient” and that they intend to “act swiftly, compassionately and decisively” if an identical disaster ought to happen once more. Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel additionally plans to handle the lightning-rod second in the course of the ceremony, albeit in a predictably extra lighthearted means.
As for Smith, he seems to be taking a special tactic in acknowledging his actions. Months after providing a number of apologies and condemning “violence in all of its kinds,” the actor appeared to poke a bit enjoyable on the controversy in a TikTok video on Tuesday. Within the video, which has greater than 1.8 million views as of Thursday, Smith watches as TikTok person @missmoneyworking explains that inanimate objects can inform you what they consider you. “So, for instance, you’ll be able to decide up a pen and ask it the way it sees you or what it thinks of you, and you’ll get a solution in your thoughts out of your instinct. You may ask your automotive what it thinks of you. You may even ask cash what it thinks of you,” the person says. In response, Smith picks up his greatest actor Oscar trophy and provides it a skeptical look.
The 2023 Oscars air on Sunday, March 12.
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