OSCARS 2023
Are Will Smith and Chris Rock going to the 2023 Academy Award ceremony?
The controversy caused at the 2022 Oscars means that one of them has been banned from future shows while the other turned down a hosting role.
Follow the Oscars ceremony 2023 live online
A hot topic for the upcoming Oscars in 2023 is what role two of the unfortunate stars of yesteryear will play this time around. Of course this is referring to Will Smith and Chris Rock. We know for sure that Will Smith will not be attending due to a ruling given out by the Academy.
“The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year,” the Academy wrote. “However, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behaviour we saw Mr Smith exhibit on stage.”
The fallout means the slapper will not be attending, while the slapped turned down a return to the starring role of presenter.
Is Will Smith going to the Oscars?
In a word: no. The veteran actor is serving the first year of a ten-year ban from the awards for the incident.
The statement released by the Academy outlined the terms of his ban: “For a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards.”
A day after the incident, Smith apologized for his actions via Instagram.
“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be,” wrote Smith.
It means the next awards he could attend would be in 2033.
What about Chris Rock?
It is not yet known whether Chris Rock will attend, though he did refuse an offer to host the awards.
Rock spoke about the Academy proposal at one of his stand-up shows last year in Phoenix, Arizona. The comedian revealed that he was asked to host this year’s Oscars, but turned down the offer, joking that returning “would be like going back to the scene of a crime.”
In a recent Netflix special Rock joked again at Smith’s expense.
“I loved Will Smith. My whole life, I loved Will Smith. I saw him open up for Run-D.M.C. … He makes great movies. I have rooted for Will Smith my whole life,” Rock said. “And now I watch Emancipation just to see him get whooped.”