Oscars 2023 Crisis Team Activated Following Will Smith Slap Incident
In response to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars, a “crisis team” will be introduced at this year’s ceremony to handle any real-time incidents.
Bill Kramer, the chief executive officer of the Academy, told Time magazine that the new unit had “run many scenarios” to be “prepared for anything.”
“As a result of last year’s Oscars, our minds have been opened to the numerous possibilities,” he said.
He stated that they are now quicker to react.
Previously, Academy president Janet Yang stated that the response to Smith’s altercation with Rock was too slow.
Smith slapped the comedian after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia-related shaved head. Following his return to his seat, the actor repeatedly yelled at Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out of your [expletive] mouth!”
He remained at the ceremony despite the incident and later received the Oscar for best actor for his performance in King Richard.
Although Smith eventually resigned from the Academy, it took the organization several additional days to decide on his membership. Ten years later, he was banned from the Oscars gala and other Academy events.
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Kramer stated that the new team would be able to respond “very quickly” on the night of the actual show.
“Let’s hope nothing happens and we never have to use these [plans], but we already have customizable frameworks in place.”
The crisis team has already been activated following Andrea Riseborough’s unexpected nomination for best actress last month.
Leslie was an underdog in the Oscars race, but Gwyneth Paltrow, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, and Edward Norton helped secure a nomination for the actress.
It was questioned whether their endorsements violated the Oscars’ campaigning regulations.
The Academy swiftly responded that the issues did not warrant revoking the nomination.
Kramer told Time, “That happened on a Tuesday, and six days later we were able to issue a formal statement from the board that outlined a plan for us.”
Jimmy Kimmel will host the Oscars again in 2023.
When asked about the ability to respond to “potential surprises” at this year’s ceremony, which will be held on March 12, Kramer stated that having Jimmy Kimmel as the host was advantageous.
“On stage, you want someone like Jimmy who is accustomed to living television,” he said. Things don’t always go according to plan, so it’s important to have a host who can adapt and manage unexpected situations.
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He stated that his energy made audiences “feel very secure and involved.”
In 2017, Kimmel steered the Oscars back on course after La La Land was incorrectly announced as the best picture winner.
In the aftermath of the incident, the chat show host remarked, “I realized I was the only one wearing a microphone, and I should probably go up there and fix it.”
The previous year’s ceremony was hosted by American comedians Wanda Sykes, Regina Hall, and Amy Schumer.
“It’s so important to have a host who knows how to handle live television and a live audience,” Kramer said, adding that he hoped this was the start of a “beautiful, long-lasting relationship” with Kimmel.
Kramer, cognizant of the declining TV audience, added that this year’s ceremony would be “much more immersive, much more nominee-focused, and much more focused on all of the filmmaking disciplines.”
