Oscars 2023 - Academy creates 'crisis team' after Will Smith slap
The crisis team will be "prepared for anything".
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is taking extra precautions to make sure the 2023 Oscars is drama-free.
According to Time magazine, the Academy has hired a "crisis team" after Will Smith infamously slapped Chris Rock at last year's ceremony.
The 54-year-old actor was upset about a joke the comedian made about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, who has alopecia.
“Jada, I love ya. 'GI Joe 2', can’t wait to see it,” Rock joked about Jada's bald head. He reportedly did not know that the 'Set If Off' actress has alopecia.
Smith apologised for his behaviour but was banned from the Oscars for 10 years. Academy officials are not taking any chances this year.
“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," the Academy's CEO Bill Kramer told Time.
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The Oscars now have a ‘crisis team’ after the Will Smith slap last year, “to quickly navigate any potential real-time emergency” in the future. pic.twitter.com/pSHQ4Hp7Qo
— N A T H A N I E L - M E N S A H (@NateMensah_) February 23, 2023
The crisis team will not only make sure that there is no drama at the Oscars but will also act quickly if anything does happen.
Officials are ready for anything. Kramer says the crisis team will help them effectively deal with any situation.
"Because of 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. This is how we all come together. This is the spokesperson. This will be the statement," Kramer added.
The CEO hopes there won't be a repeat of last year's drama.
"... let’s hope something doesn’t happen and we never have to use these, but we already have frameworks in place that we can modify. "
The 2023 Oscars are taking place at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 12. Jimmy Kimmel is set to host the ceremony.
See the full list of nominees here.
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Image credit: AFP