The 2022 Oscar ceremony made for a night to remember after Will Smith slapped host Chris Rock onstage in response to a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's bald head due to alopecia. This incident quickly became one of the most talked about moments in Hollywood history, with many comedic icons like Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and Trevor Noah weighing in on the incident.
Smith accepted his first-ever Oscar for his role in “King Richard” and apologized to the Academy, his fellow nominees and the Williams Family. He later resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Academy accepted his resignation and announced that it would explore further actions and consequences. Smith was also banned from any Academy events until 2032.
Saturday Night Live poked fun at the slap in a sketch, while Academy President David Rubin claimed that the organization was still planning to continue its investigation. Pinkett Smith addressed her husband’s outburst in an Instagram post and Rock addressed the slap during stand-up shows in Holmdel, New Jersey and New York City. Smith released a video to YouTube apologizing to Rock and his family, and later appeared on “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” and explained why he had reacted emotionally.
Smith's first movie after the Slap, “Emancipation”, was released in December 2022 and earned praise at a special screening hosted by the NAACP. The Academy President Bill Kramer said this year's Oscar ceremony will have a “crisis team” standing by in case something similar happens. Rock finally addressed the incident in his Netflix special "Selective Outrage", saying that Smith hit him over "the nicest joke I ever told" — reportedly Smith felt “embarrassed and hurt” by Rock’s jokes.
As the 2023 Academy Awards fast approach, the incident with Smith and Rock is still fresh in the minds of many in Hollywood. Smith remains banned from attending any Academy events until 2032, and the executive producer Molly McNearney has said that the altercation will be addressed in a comedic fashion.
Jimmy Kimmel is preparing for the Oscars and has been asked if he expects “any violence” akin to Smith’s slap at 2022 host Chris Rock. Kimmel joked that the decision to go with a champagne carpet rather than red carpet shows how confident they are that no blood will be shed. Kimmel said he'd take on anyone who tries to ambush him but he'll run away if it's Chris Rock.
The Oscars 2023 are set to air on Sunday, March 12 and already have several controversies swirling around them. Cate Blanchett has been nominated for Best Actress for her role in "Everything Everywhere All at Once" while Brendan Butler is expected to win Best Actor for "Elvis". Additionally, the nomination of Andrea Riseborough for best actress for the film “To Leslie” caused some debate as the movie had made just $27,000 at the box office and major stars such as Kate Winslet and Gwyneth Paltrow had campaigned for her.
Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All At Once”) and Cate Blanchett (“Tár”) are in a tight race for Best Actress, but Yeoh might have violated an old rule by posting a section of a Vogue story on her Instagram account. Finally, Brendan Fraser’s nomination for Best Actor for his role in “The Whale” has sparked some controversy as he is neither 600 pounds nor gay. Furthermore, the lack of a nomination for Viola Davis for “The Woman King” and Danielle Deadwyler for “Till” has led to accusations of racism and misogyny.
As we approach the 2023 Academy Awards, Hollywood is still reflecting on the shocking incident between Will Smith and Chris Rock two years before. The Smith family has yet to make an appearance at Vanity Fair after-party, and the industry is still debating the consequences of Smith's actions. With many controversies around the Oscars this year, it's sure to be a night to remember.