• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
This is how 2023's Oscars is going to address Will Smith's infamous slap

Home> News

Published 18:22 9 Mar 2023 GMT

This is how 2023's Oscars is going to address Will Smith's infamous slap

The actor took to the stage and slapped Chris Rock at last year's awards, and they've had to plan how they approach it this time around

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

The 95th Academy Awards are almost upon us, and the organisers will be hoping it goes a little smoother this time around.

You may recall Will Smith slapping Chris Rock across the chops at last year's Oscars, sparking seemingly never ending headlines across the globe.

To refresh your memory, the shocking moment occurred while the King Richard star was sitting in the audience at the 2022 Academy Awards with his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith.

Rock, who was hosting, made a G.I. Jane joke about Jada, a comment that referenced her bald head.

Advert

The joke enraged Smith, who was seen shouting 'keep my wife's name out of your f***ing mouth'.

He then walked up to the stage and slapped Rock around the face.

Though the awards ceremony carried on - with Smith even winning the Best Actor award - he later faced the repercussions.

Naturally, the organisers have had to plan how best to approach the incident at this year's ceremony, and while it may be tempting to ignore it completely, they've thought better of it.

Advert

Speaking at a press conference yesterday (Wednesday, 8 March), the creative team offered up an insight into what we can expect from the show at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday (12 March).

According to Variety, executive producer Molly McNearney said: "We're going to acknowledge it, and then we're gonna move on.

The creative team offered an insight into what we can expect from the 95th Academy Awards after last year's incident.
REUTERS / Alamy Stock Photo

"We don't want to make this year about last year. It's certainly something we can and will address in a comedic fashion."

Advert

Showrunner Ricky Kirshner also indicated that it will have a different feel to previous years, with the show 'honoring the crafts and what it takes to make a movie'.

He explained: "There's no more, 'This is what we used to do'.

"We've rethought the show and we've got presenters that make sense for the categories.

"Most people see just the actors in front of the camera, but as you know, there are hundreds of people that make movies and a lot of people across the country don't know what it takes, but we're going to show that."

Advert

It was also previously revealed that they've got a crisis team on standby this time around in case any slap-like situations go down.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer told TIME Magazine: "We have a whole crisis team, something we’ve never had before, and many plans in place. We've run many scenarios.

"So it is our hope that we will be prepared for anything that we may not anticipate right now but that we're planning for just in case it does happen."

Advert

He added: "Because of [the slap] last year, we've opened our minds to the many things that can happen at the Oscars.

"But these crisis plans - the crisis communication teams and structures we have in place - allow us to say this is the group that we have to gather very quickly."

Another key difference this year is that Smith won't be there, as he was handed a 10-year ban following the slap.

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock

Topics: Oscars, Will Smith, US News, Film and TV, Chris Rock, Celebrity

Jake Massey
Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

X

@jakesmassey

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
11 hours ago
13 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Virginia Giuffre's family issue scathing response after Trump claimed Epstein 'stole' her

    Trump explained what Epstein was doing that rubbed him the wrong way

    News
  • 11 hours ago

    Hulk Hogan’s daughter Brooke reveals shocking reason she didn’t attend dad’s tributes

    Brooke Oleksy shut down previous reports that she and her late father were on bad terms

    Celebrity
  • 11 hours ago

    Expert reveals the 3 common names you should never give your baby for surprising reason

    All three are strong names that are popular today, but there's a reason why this expert doesn't think you should name your child them

    News
  • 13 hours ago

    James Gunn responds to Trisha Paytas naming baby ‘Aquaman’ following bizarre Ozzy Osbourne conspiracy

    DC Studios' co-CEO has reacted to the internet celeb having named her baby Aquaman - something she revealed on the day Ozzy Osbourne died

    Celebrity
  • Liza Minnelli claims her famous 2022 Oscars appearance was 'sabotaged'
  • Infamous ‘Annabelle’ doll not found in hotel room after paranormal investigator dies while touring US with it
  • Chris Rock's Mum Finally Speaks Out Over Will Smith Oscars Slap
  • Bad Boys: Ride or Die directors say Will Smith's infamous slap inspired movie and caused change in script