The stage for Oscars 2023, aka the biggest award ceremony of the year, is all set, and the entire cinephile community can’t keep their calm about it. The prestigious accolade that represents the best in arts and cinema, has a history filled with notable receptions and controversies. And the events that transpired last year, were no exception to this.
The entire slap gate fiasco between comedian Chris Rock and actor Will Smith led to some harsh criticism of the Academy Awards, which overtook the spotlight away from the winners.
What Happened During Oscars 2022?
In 2022, the Oscars ceremony took a shocking turn of events when presenter Chris Rock and actor Will Smith engaged in a heated situation on stage. During his monologue, Rock directed a joke about Smith’s wife, referencing the movie GI Joe.
However, one thing led to another, and the actor (nominated for King Richard) went on stage and slapped the comedian. Initially, everyone expected this to be some kind of bit that just went too far. But when Smith began to shout at Rock after taking his seat, things became quite real.
The entire internet completely broke down over the incident and started its own hashtags related to it. Everyone from the film community to the fans, had their own reactions to it, with a common criticism of Will Smith and his actions.
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Will Chris Rock and Will Smith Attend the Oscars 2023?
The incident ultimately led to Smith being banned from any Academy Award ceremony for the next ten years, including all the events related to it. The Academy came down hard on Smith’s action and gave him a decade-long ban from attending anything related to the Oscars.
Therefore, it is quite clear that the actor won’t be attending this year’s ceremony (or the next one’s) before the upliftment of his ban. On the other hand, there is no official confirmation from Rock’s end to participate in this year’s ceremony.
Whatever the case may be, the 95th Academy Award ceremony promises to be one wild ride, where the love of movies and cinema will overtake everything else.
You can stream the ceremony live on Disney Plus Hotstar. Let us know your thoughts about it in the comment section below.