OSCARS
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John Travolta is set to present on the 2023 Oscars on Sunday, March 12. This will give the veteran actor another chance to prove that his inexplicable mangling of Idina Menzel’s name as Adele Dazeem on the Oscars nine years ago was just a once-in-a-lifetime verbal slip.
Halle Berry, who remains the only Black actress to win for best actress (and will remain so even after this year, since no Black actresses were nominated in that category this year), will also present on the show. Berry won the award for her 2001 film Monster’s Ball.
Past Oscar nominees Harrison Ford and Kate Hudson were also included in the third and final batch of presenters announced on Thursday (March 9). So were Paul Dano, Cara Delevingne, Mindy Kaling, Eva Longoria, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Andie MacDowell, Elizabeth Olsen and Pedro Pascal.
Previously announced presenters are Riz Ahmed, Halle Bailey, Antonio Banderas, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain, John Cho, Glenn Close, Jennifer Connelly, Ariana DeBose, Andrew Garfield, Hugh Grant, Danai Gurira, Salma Hayek Pinault, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael B. Jordan, Nicole Kidman, Troy Kotsur, Jonathan Majors, Melissa McCarthy, Janelle Monáe, Deepika Padukone, Florence Pugh, Questlove, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver and Donnie Yen.
The presenters were announced by executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner and executive producer Molly McNearney. Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the Oscars will air live on ABC and broadcast to outlets worldwide on Sunday, March 12, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
The 95th Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, the show’s usual home since 2002. (The only exception was the show two years ago, near the height of the pandemic. That one was held at Union Station In Los Angeles.)
Jimmy Kimmel has seen, heard and, let’s be honest, told way too many Will Smith–Chris Rock 2022 Academy Award slap jokes. But on Sunday night (March 12), the late night talker will be back on the Oscars stage for his third go-round as the night’s host and in his first one-on-one interview promoting the show he assured Good Morning America‘s Lara Spencer on Thursday (March 9) that there will be no such incidents on his watch.
“I’ll tell you what, nobody got hit when I hosted the show,” Kimmel joked about his 2017 and 2018 stints keeping the trains running on movie’s biggest night. Kimmel said he’s given it a lot of thought and he knows that “a million jokes have been made about it, a million think pieces have been written on it… There has been a lot said about it, so whatever I say has to be I think — you know, it has to be good.”
So rest assured that Kimmel has plenty to say about the thing that will undoubtedly be on everyone’s mind. “Everybody’s gonna be waiting for that moment. And that will be part of the show, but certainly not the focus of the show,” he said of the notorious incident that birthed a million headlines after Smith shocked viewers by storming the stage and slapping comedian Rock across the face after the stand-up made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Besides, Kimmel knows what happens when things go sideways at the Oscars, as they did in 2017 when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway presented the best picture award and accidentally said La La Land instead of the correct winner, Moonlight.
“We had a little envelope problem the first time,” Kimmel said. “That was that. And then — but I’ll tell you what, nobody got hit when I hosted the show. Everybody was well-behaved at my Oscars.”
Kimmel said he’s also really excited for Rihanna‘s performance of her Oscar-nominated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ballad “Lift Me Up.” After the singer revealed that she is pregnant with her second child during this year’s Super Bowl LVII halftime performance, Kimmel said Sunday’s set should be equally dramatic.
“Rihanna is more pregnant than the Super Bowl,” he said. “She’s bigger, it’s bigger. Come see Rihanna have a baby!” And as for Kimmel’s long-time A-list nemesis, actor Matt Damon, you can surely imagine what Jimmy had to say about that. “Matt Damon… was not invited, was not nominated, and I hope he’s never invited or nominated again.”
Watch Kimmel on GMA here.
The Oscars, which held their first awards ceremony at the stately Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in 1929 and their first TV broadcast in 1953, are meeting the digital age head-on: Producers of the 2023 Oscars telecast, which airs on Sunday, March 12, will put up QR codes at the end of most “acts” of the show, heading into commercial breaks, inviting viewers to learn more about a particular craft.
And they plan to address the incident that dominated, and in many ways derailed, last year’s show – the stunning moment when Will Smith slapped presenter Chris Rock after Rock told a joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
Those were two of the news breaks that came out of a Zoom call held on Wednesday, March 8 in which eight key members of the creative team met with entertainment journalists. The biggest news that came out the session is that Lady Gaga will not be performing her Oscar-nominated “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick on the telecast because she’s busy making a movie, Joker: Folie a Deux, in which she’s playing Harley Quinn opposite Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker.
The Oscar team understood her decision. “She is in the middle of shooting a movie right now, and here we are honoring the movie industry and what it takes to make a movie,” Glenn Weiss, one of the show’s executive producers and showrunners, said on the call. “After a bunch of back and forth, it didn’t feel like she can get a performance to the caliber that we’re used to with her, that she’s used to. So she is not going to perform on the show. However, this is all from our point of view of somebody making a movie and us completely understanding that that’s what’s a priority in this business, especially when we’re honoring movies.”
Oscar show production talent who participated in the Zoom call were Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, executive producers and showrunners; Molly McNearney, executive producer; Sarah Levine Hall, producer; Rickey Minor, musical director; and Dave Boone, Agathe Panaretos and Nefetari Spencer, writers. The session was moderated by Jacqueline Coley, awards editor for Rotten Tomatoes.
McNearney is not only executive producer of the 2023 Oscars, she is also executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and, since 2012, the wife of the host of both shows, Jimmy Kimmel.
Here are eight selected highlights of the conversation:
On Acknowledging ‘The Slap’
Molly McNearney: “We’re going to acknowledge it, and then we’re going to move on, because I think that’s probably what everyone wants, especially in that room. We don’t want to make this year about last year. But, yeah, it’s certainly something that we can and will address in a comedic fashion.”
On Bringing QR Codes to the Oscars
Ricky Kirshner: “At the end of most of our acts, we’re going to put up a QR code and let you go see the nominees that are going to come up. So, like, at the end of one of the acts, we will say: “To learn more about the cinematography nominees, scan the QR code on your screen,” and we will take you to a two‑ or three‑minute package to really humanize those people. You’ll meet all the nominees in that category and really give yourself a rooting interest for not only the film you might like, but the people you might like and learn a little bit more about what they do and who they are.”
Glenn Weiss: “It’s allowing us not just to be a television show, but us to cross platforms and invite people to watch the show and, also, take in content, you know, digitally as well. It’s really important for us that people who are watching the show are invested. And the more they know about the nominees, for example, the more they might have rooting interest for who’s going to win. And in that case, it makes it more must‑see, so to speak.”
On Finding the Right Tone
Molly McNearney: “We don’t ‑‑ we’re not going to make anyone mad in the room. We’re trying to book those people on Monday [on Jimmy Kimmel Live!]. So we’re not here to insult. We’re here to help celebrate. We’re here to lift them up. It’s a big night. We’ll obviously have a lot of laughs, but not so much at people’s expense. You know, we might take a jab here or there, but we really want people to have fun and feel good because they should.
Dave Boone: “Yeah. At the end of the day, it’s not a roast, it’s a celebration.”
On Overseeing Music on the Show
Rickey Minor: “We’re looking into making sure that this is 95 years of great music. And so diving through that, it’s a treasure trove. I mean, it’s hard to make a commitment to which things that we’re going to do. So we have a lot of material to choose from. …It’s about pacing the music where it’s not all dramatic play‑ons or very, you know, emotional, but things with tempo, things with ‑‑ stylistically from different continents around the world. And so, musically, it’s a celebration of film. And it’s ‑‑ because we’re here in Hollywood doesn’t mean that this is where it only happens. It happens all around the world for many years. And so, we’re going to celebrate that.”
Ricky Kirshner: “We will have our orchestra on stage, and they’ll be featured a lot in the show this year. I know people like to see them. And obviously, Rickey likes his time on TV.”
Rickey Minor (playing along): “Yeah, it’s in the contract.”
On Juggling Jimmy Fallon Live! and The Oscars
Molly McNearney: “It was a lot of work doing [both shows] at one time. We’re dark now, this week, which is nice. So we can just focus on Oscars. But I will say there is definitely a greater sense of pride for a writer getting a joke on the Oscars than on Jimmy Kimmel Live! And I think it’s a much bigger audience, and these jokes are being quoted in the press the next day, and they ‑‑ everyone wants their hand on one of those moments. But it’s a very collaborative ‑‑ it gets really exciting in the room when someone says a joke and someone else makes it better. And I think that goes for the teamwork of the show too. Like, we’re all here to help each other look better.”
Glenn Weiss: “This has been ‑‑ I have done award shows for a very long time with very many hosts. This has been such a multi‑month collaboration with both Jimmy, Molly, and the rest of the staff. But, honestly, I’ve never seen a host as engaged, and it’s been a really, really great experience. Jimmy loves movies … and everything that has gone back and forth between, you know, the folks at Kimmel and folks at the Oscars, it has been a really great build and a great experience that has gone on for months. It’s not just, “We’re dark week of.” … You guys are putting in so much more than that.”
On What’s Keeping Them Up at Night
Molly McNearney: “Honestly, keeping us up at night in my house right now is just deciding which jokes are going to make it and which aren’t. Because, again, we have a lot of great writers and a lot of great material. And it’s a real science and the rhythm of the monolog and figuring out where to take the audience. And I would say that’s keeping us up at night. Thankfully, we’re in the world’s best hands with this team.”
Glenn Weiss: “I think the only thing keeping me up at night are text messages, goddamn text messages in the middle of the night. Molly and Jimmy are in the bathroom brushing their teeth, and then my phone buzzes, and then Bill [Academy CEO Bill Kramer] buzzes me, and then Ricky buzzes me. So if you guys stop texting at night, I would get sleep and the show would be great.”
Molly McNearney: “That’s when we come up with our ideas, okay? Right when you’re sleeping.”
On Whether They’re Concerned About Ratings
Glenn Weiss: “I will say there’s always concerns. But at the end of the day, I think what we have to do is keep going forward and make this as great and entertaining and respectful and reverent a show as we possibly can. You know, this entire business is going through a little bit of a transition. That said, our objective is to do our jobs well and to give you a really great show to watch. We can only hope the ratings go in the direction that we want them to, but we are just ‑‑ we’re committed to making this something that will be appreciated by everybody viewing it.”
Some Parting Words of Advice
Glenn Weiss: “You will not want to miss the top.”
Ricky Kirshner: “An opening you don’t want to miss.”
Lady Gaga will not perform at the 2023 Oscars on Sunday, Glenn Weiss — one of the show’s executive producers and showrunners — said in a Zoom call with entertainment journalists on Wednesday (March 8).
Weiss explained that Gaga is busy making a movie and felt that she couldn’t give a performance the time and commitment it would need to meet her expectations. Gaga is nominated for best original song with “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick.
“We invited all five nominees,” Weiss said on the Zoom. “We have a great relationship with Lady Gaga and her camp. She is in the middle of shooting a movie right now. Here, we are honoring the movie industry and what it takes to make a movie after a bunch of back and forth…It didn’t feel like she can get a performance to the caliber that we’re used to with her and that she is used to. So, she is not going to perform on the show.”
As a result, this will be the second Oscar telecast in a row in which one of the five nominated songs was not performed on the show. Last year, Van Morrison declined to perform “Down to Joy” from Belfast.
Gaga is in the midst of filming director Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux. She is playing Harley Quinn opposite Joaquin Phoenix, who won an Oscar for best actor for playing the title character in The Joker. Warner Bros. plans to release the film Oct. 9, 2024 — five years to the day after the release of the first film.
Gaga has performed on the Oscars three times. In 2015, she performed a medley of four songs from The Sound of Music to honor that film on its 50th anniversary. In a memorable Oscar moment, Julie Andrews came out at the end of Gaga’s performance and the two stars embraced.
In 2016, Gaga sang the nominated song “Til It Happens to You” from The Hunting Ground. In 2019, she and Bradley Cooper sang “Shallow” from A Star Is Born, which went on to win the award. The staging of “Shallow” was memorable, with Gaga and Cooper stepping up from their front-row seats to take the stage.
Two weeks ago, the Academy announced that Rihanna will perform “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The following day, they announced that actress and singer Sofia Carson, accompanied by songwriter Diane Warren, will perform “Applause” from Tell It like a Woman.
Last week, the Academy announced that Stephanie Hsu, an Oscar nominee for best supporting actress for Everything Everywhere All at Once, will join David Byrne and Son Lux to perform that film’s “This Is a Life.” They also announced that Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava will perform “Naatu Naatu” from RRR.
“Hold My Hand,” which Gaga co-wrote with BloodPop, peaked at No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 (in June). The song might well have reached a new peak following the Oscars. Both of Gaga’s previous Oscar-nominated songs reached new peaks following the telecast. “Shallow” shot from No. 21 to No. 1 on the Hot 100 the week following the Oscars. It had previously peaked at No. 5. “Til It Happens to You” had failed to make the Hot 100 when it was first released, but entered the chart at No. 95 following the Oscars.
Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the 95th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 12, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.
Oscar show production talent who participated in the Zoom call were Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, executive producers and showrunners; Molly McNearney, executive producer; Sarah Levine Hall, producer; Rickey Minor, musical director; and Dave Boone, Agathe Panaretos and Nefetari Spencer, writers. The session was moderated by Jacqueline Coley.
It’s been almost a year since the slap heard around the world, when Will Smith stormed the stage at the Oscars on March 27, 2022, to smack Chris Rock across the face on live television.
The tense moment occurred after Rock made an onstage joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, during the Academy Awards ceremony. “Jada, I love you. G.I Jane 2, can’t wait to see it,” the comedian said about her shaved head — which, unbeknownst to Rock, is caused by the actress’ struggles with alopecia.
Pinkett Smith rolled her eyes in response, while Smith laughed. Shortly after, the King Richard actor ran up on stage to slap Rock, who attempted to continue his banter before Smith began shouting from his seat, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—ing mouth.”
In the year since then, Smith has issued a number of apologies, others who were present at the situation have spoken up about what went down and Chris Rock has make jokes about the incident throughout his comedy specials.
With the 2023 Oscars on the way, see below for a timeline of everything that has gone down between Smith and Rock since the slap.
March 27, 2022: Will Smith’s Acceptance Speech
Shortly after the incident, Smith won the best actor award for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ dad Richard Williams in King Richard.
“Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,” Smith said during his acceptance speech, seeming to allude to the viral moment. He then mentioned some of his King Richard costars. “In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world. Making this film, I got to protect Aunganue Ellis, who is one of the most strongest, most delicate people I’ve ever met. I got to protect Saniyya [Sidney] and Demi [Singleton], the two actresses who play Venus and Serena. I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people.”
“Now I know to do what we do, you gotta be able to take abuse. You gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business you have to be able to have people disrespecting you. And you gotta smile and pretend that’s OK,” he continued, becoming increasingly emotional, tears welling up in his eyes. “Denzel [Washington] said to me a few minutes ago, he said, ‘At your highest moment, that’s when the devil comes for you.’”
Smith then delivered his mea culpa, though without mentioning Rock. “I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to my fellow nominees,” he said, continuing to tear up. “This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award. It’s not about winning an award for me. It’s about being able to shine a light on all of the people … Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father just like they said … just like they said about Richard Williams. Love will make you do crazy things.”
March 28, 2022: Chris Rock Declines to Press Charges
“LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program,” the department said in a statement, NBC reported. “The incident involved one individual slapping another. The individual involved has declined to file a police report. If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report.”
NBC News reported that spokespeople for Rock did not return requests for comment, and that senior sources at the LAPD said officers typically don’t take action in this kind of suspected misdemeanor battery investigation unless the victim wants to press charges or help fill out an incident report.
March 28, 2022: The Academy Releases Statement, Opens Formal Review
“The Academy does not condone violence of any form,” the organization tweeted. “Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.”
The Academy does not condone violence of any form.Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 28, 2022https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Later, in a statement to Billboard, the organization shared, “The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show. We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law.”
March 28, 2022: Will Smith Issues an Apology
Smith shared a statement via Instagram, apologizing for his actions. “Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally,” Smith wrote in a lengthy message. “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. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
He continued, “I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress.”
See his post here.
March 29, 2022: Jada Pinkett Smith Calls For ‘Season For Healing’
Jada Pinkett Smith posted her own Instagram message amid the drama, declaring that “this is a season for healing.”
“And I’m here for it,” Pinkett Smith added in the post, which made no direct reference to the incident. See her post here.
March 29, 2022: Will Smith’s Mom Weighs In
Smith’s mother, Caroline Bright, shared her thoughts on the slap in an interview with Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate 6abc, calling the experience a “first” for her. “[Will] is a very even, people person. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen him go off. First time in his lifetime … I’ve never seen him do that,” she said.
March 30, 2022: Chris Rock Breaks His Silence
The comedian spoke out publicly about the incident for the first time during his stand-up show in Boston. “How was your weekend?” he asked the crowd, who began laughing, as reported by Variety. “I don’t have a bunch of sh– about what happened, so if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend. I’m still kind of processing what happened. So at some point, I’ll talk about that sh–. And it will be serious and funny.”
The audience then broke into a chant, shouting “F— Will Smith,” which can be heard in the audio Variety posted on Instagram here.
April 1, 2022: Will Smith Resigns From The Academy
In a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Smith said he was heartbroken and would accept all consequences for his conduct.
“My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home,” Smith said in the statement. “I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film.”
Smith’s resignation means he can no longer vote for the Oscars — but he can still be nominated for future Academy Awards, attend future ceremonies and keep the statue he won.
“We have received and accepted Mr. Will Smith’s immediate resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,” the Academy said in a statement. “We will continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, in advance of our next scheduled board meeting on April 18.”
April 3, 2022: ‘SNL’ Reenacts the Incident
In a later sketch in the episode, Jarrod Carmichael and Chris Redd poked fun at the slap. “Seat filler” Carmichael went up to Redd’s Smith, telling him he was such a fan of his and asked him for a selfie. In the background, voiceover can be heard of Rock’s G.I. Jane joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who has a shaved head and has been open about her struggle with alopecia.
“I don’t wanna sound corny, but you’re like my hero, man,” Carmichael told Redd’s Smith. “This is the coolest man in my life. I’m talking to Will Smith. Chris Rock just got up onstage.”
Redd’s Smith told Carmichael he’d be right back and went onstage to slap Rock, returning to his seat shortly after as if nothing was wrong.
“I like your tux, by the way,” Redd told Carmichael. “Look good, feel good,” he continued before turning his attention to the stage and shouting, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—ing mouth,” like Smith yelled at Rock at the Oscars on Sunday.
Watch it here.
April 4, 2022: Chris Rock’s Brother Kenny Weighs In
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Kenny shared that he thinks Smith’s apology was nothing more than a PR move. “No, I don’t accept it because I don’t think it was genuine,” he said. “I think his publicist and the people that work under him probably advised him to do that.” (Another of Rock’s other brothers, Tony, also said he does not accept Smith’s apology and said the entire fiasco was “foul.”)
He continued, “I might have looked at it differently had he initially apologized when he got on the stage and cried and accepted the award, but he didn’t, so, right there that tells me that it is something else.”
As for Smith remaining in the ceremony after slapping Rock, and later accepting the best actor award for his role in King Richard? Kenny (as well as other celebrities in attendance) believes that was a misstep on the Academy’s part.
“He should have been escorted out of there,” he said. “I hold them accountable for that. He could have went up there and did anything you wanted to my brother. It could have been much worse than what he did.” Kenny added that Smith “belittled my brother. He had no respect for him. … In my opinion, he embarrassed himself by doing that and his legacy by doing that.”
April 8, 2022: Will Smith Banned From Attending Any Academy Events for 10 Years
Smith will not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs for the next 10 years in the wake of his conduct. That means Smith will not be allowed to present the award to 2023’s best actress winner, a time-honored tradition at the Oscars.
Academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson released an “open letter to our Academy family” about their decision, which you can read in full here.
April 23, 2022: Chris Rock’s Mom Speaks Out
Rose Rock, an author and motivational speaker, told WIS that the comedian is doing well but “still processing” the incident that led Smith to resign from the Academy. “I told someone, when Will slapped Chris, he slapped all of us, but he really slapped me,” she said. “When you hurt my child, you hurt me.”
When asked what she would say to Smith, Rose shared, “I have no idea what I would say other than, ‘What in the world were you thinking?’ Because you did a slap, but so many things could have happened. Chris could have stepped back and fallen. You really could have gotten taken out in handcuffs. You didn’t think. You reacted to your wife giving you the side-eye, and you went up, and you made her day because she was bowled over laughing when it happened.”
She added that she didn’t think the apology Smith posted to his Instagram account on the day after the ceremony felt genuine. “I feel really bad that he never apologized,” Rock said. “His people wrote up a piece and said, ‘I apologize to Chris Rock,’ but something like that is personal. You reach out.”
June 1, 2022: Jada Pinkett Smith Breaks Silence
On an episode of her Red Table Talk series, Pinkett Smith said, “My deepest hope is that these two intelligent, capable men have an opportunity to heal, talk this out and reconcile.”
She added, “the state of the world today, we need ’em both. And we all actually need one another more than ever. Until then, Will and I are continuing to do what we have done for the last 28 years, and that’s keep figuring out this thing called life together.”
Watch the full episode here.
July 28, 2022: Chris Rock Addresses Will Smith Slap During Stand-Up Show
On his Rock Hart Only Headliners Allowed tour stop with Kevin Hart at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, Rock reportedly made one of the most specific references to date addressing his feelings surrounding the slap.
“Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face,” Rock, 57, said during his set, according to US Weekly, citing an unnamed eyewitness to the set. Rock also reportedly later referred to Smith — who has kept a low-to-no profile since the incident — as “Suge Smith,” seemingly a reference to the disgraced, currently imprisoned former Death Row Records CEO and strongman Marion “Suge” Knight.
“I’m not a victim, motherf–ker,” he added, saying he “shook that s–t off and returned to work.” Now, don’t get him wrong, Rock said, “yeah, that s–t hurt, motherf–ker. But I shook that s–t off and went to work the next day… I don’t go to the hospital for a papercut.”
July 29, 2022: Will Smith Issues Video Apology
Smith returned from his social media break with a video titled “it’s been a minute” to his YouTube page, answering questions regarding the Oscars incident and issue another apology to Rock, as well as Rock’s family.
While answering the question of why he did not take the opportunity to apologize for the slap during his acceptance speech after winning best actor, Smith said he was not in a clear state of mind. “I was fogged out by that point. It is all fuzzy. I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that, he’s not ready to talk. When he is, he will reach out. I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I am here whenever you are ready to talk,” he said.
Smith continued, “I want to apologize to Chris’s mother. I saw an interview [she] did, and that was one of the things I just didn’t realize. I wasn’t thinking, but how many people got hurt in that moment. I want to apologize to Chris’ mother, I want to apologize to Chris’s family, specifically Tony Rock. We had a great relationship. Tony Rock was my man. This is probably irreparable. I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuance and complexity of what happened in that moment. I’m not going to try to unpack all of that right now, but I can say to all of you, there is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. No part of me that thinks that is the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insult.”
Watch the video here.
July 29, 2022: Will Smith Reflects on ‘Horrific Night’ of Oscars Slap
During an appearance on The Daily Show With Trevor Noah this week, Smith called the situation a “horrific night.”
While he added that there were “nuances and complexities” to the moment, he “lost it” during the ceremony. “And I guess what I would say, you just never know what somebody is going through,” he continued. “I was going through something that night. Not that that justifies my behavior at all.”
Smith noted that there “was a rage that had been bottled for a really long time,” and that the most painful part of it all was that “I took my hard and made it hard for other people. I understood the idea where they say that hurt people hurt people.” Noah then pointed out how in Smith’s memoir, the actor shared that he grew up being afraid of conflict.
“It was a lot of things,” Smith said in response. “It was the little boy that watched his father beat up his mother, you know. All of that just bubbled up in that moment. That’s not who I want to be.”
Watch the interview here.
February 14, 2023: Academy President Reflects on Response to the Slap
Academy President Janet Yang reiterated during the 2023 Oscars Nominees Luncheon that the organization’s response to the 2022 ceremony was “inadequate” and that “we must act swiftly, compassionately and decisively” on similar issues in the future.
“As I’m sure you all remember we experienced an unprecedented event at the Oscars,” Yang said. “What happened on stage was wholly unacceptable and the response from the organization was inadequate. We learned from this that the Academy must be fully transparent and accountable in our actions and particularly in times of crisis.”
“We must act swiftly, compassionately and decisively for ourselves and for our industry. You should and can expect no less from us going forward,” she added. “We are committed to maintaining the highest of standards while creating the changes we wish to see in our industry.”
March 5, 2023: Chris Rock Slams Will Smith in Netflix Comedy Special
During Netflix’s first live special Chris Rock: Selective Outrage!, the comedian finally addressed the smackdown at length — and didn’t hold back, Smith’s marital issues (in which Pinkett Smith acknowledged a relationship with singer August Alsina).
“Will Smith practices selective outrage,” Rock told the audience. “Outrage because everybody knows what the f— happened. Everybody that really knows, knows that I have nothing to do with that s—. I didn’t have any entanglements.”
He continued, “His wife was f—ing her son’s friend. OK, now, I normally would not talk about this s—, but for some reason, these n—-s put that s— on the internet. I have no idea why two talented people would do something that lowdown. What the f—? And we’ve all been cheated on. Everybody in here has been cheated on. None of us have ever been interviewed by the person that cheated on us on television.”
“She hurt him way more than he hurt me. Everybody in the world called him a b—-. I tried to call the motherf—er, I tried to call that man and give him my condolences, he didn’t pick up for me.” He continued by listing all the people who called Smith a “b—-” after that interview on Red Table Talk, including Charlamagne Tha God and The View. “Everybody called him a b—-, and who did he hit? Me — a n—a he knows he could beat. That is some b—- ass shit.”
Toward the end of the special, Rock admitted, “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.”
Rock used the last minute of Selective Outrage to answer why he didn’t do anything back. “‘Cause I got parents,” Rock said. “‘Cause I was raised. And you know what my parents taught me? Don’t fight in front of white people.”
Halle Bailey, who stars as Ariel in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, will present on the 2023 Oscars on Sunday, March 12.
The Little Mermaid, which was directed by Rob Marshall and produced by Marshall, John DeLuca, Marc Platt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, is due May 26. Melissa McCarthy, who appears in the film as the treacherous sea witch Ursula, was already announced as an Oscars presenter.
Jessica Chastain, who won an Oscar for best actress last year for her lead role in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, will also present. Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur, last year’s Oscar winners in supporting roles, were already announced as presenters. Last year’s best actor winner, Will Smith, was barred from attending any Academy events for 10 years after slapping Chris Rock on last year’s show.
Andrew Garfield, a two-time best actor nominee who presented the life achievement award to Sally Field on the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Feb. 26, will also present, along with fellow former Oscar nominees Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Pinault, Nicole Kidman, Florence Pugh and Sigourney Weaver.
Elizabeth Banks, John Cho, Hugh Grant and Danai Gurira are also set to present.
They join previously announced presenters Riz Ahmed, Emily Blunt, Glenn Close, Jennifer Connelly, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Majors, Janelle Monáe, Deepika Padukone, Questlove, Zoe Saldaña and Donnie Yen.
The latest announcement was made on Tuesday (March 7) by executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner and executive producer Molly McNearney. The producers will continue to announce talent joining the show in the run-up to the ceremony.
The producers have announced performances from four of the five nominees for best original song. The only one they haven’t yet announced is Lady Gaga performing “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick.
Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the 95th Oscars will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 12, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The show will be held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
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Planning an Oscars watch party? You can now make “perfectly crafted” cocktails in seconds with this cordless cocktail maker from Black + Decker.
If you love cocktails and entertaining guests, the bev by BLACK+DECKER Cordless Cocktail Maker might be right up your alley. This best-selling gadget creates “personalized” cocktails and mocktails in seconds thanks to an “easy-load” system and over 40 compatible Bartesian cocktail capsules.
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The bev is an “amazing” edition to any kitchen and allows you to make “perfectly crafted cocktails at home,” according to one of dozens of positive reviews.
And it’s easy to use. Simply load the machine with the liquor or non-alcoholic spirits and the cocktail capsule of your choice, choose how strong you want the drink, press the “mix” button and enjoy.
bev by BLACK+DECKER Cocktail Maker Machine and Drink Maker for Bartesian capsules
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The bev dispenses perfectly measured amounts of each ingredient for a perfectly mixed drink. It’s also equipped with LED lights at the base and a Party Mode button that makes the bottles light up.
Available at Amazon and BlackandDecker.com, the bev usually retails for $299.99, but it’s currently on sale at Amazon. Prime members get free delivery on millions of items, which means that if you order the bev today, you won’t have to pay extra to have it delivered by Oscar Sunday.
Black + Decker debuted its latest and soon-to-be-launched products — including the bev, the expansion of the kitchen wand family of attachments and the POWERSERIES Extreme MAX Cordless the SUMMITSERIES Select — during the Inspired Home Show, which kicked off in Chicago over the weekend and ends on Tuesday (March 7).
“Making life easier so you can enjoy more is what drives BLACK+DECKER’s product portfolio,” said Kendall Nohe, Global Director of Product Marketing at BLACK+DECKER. “We are focused on expanding and innovating our cleaning products as well as bringing cordless to other entertainment areas of your home. We’re excited to display how infusing BLACK+DECKER into your household can help make life easier and more joyful.”
The 95th annual Academy Awards return to ABC on Sunday, March 12 at 8 p.m. ET. If you’re in need of more watch-party essentials, the official Oscar Viewing Part Kit ($45) is available at the Academy Museum Store – but it might not arrive in time for the Oscars. Luckily, Amazon and Walmart offer a huge selection of beverages, snacks and other party essentials like new TVs — if you need to upgrade your home theater — and same-day delivery on most items.
From food and drinks to Oscar-themed party decorations, if you’re a Prime, you’ll get free shipping. And in case you don’t have anything to wear to your party, Amazon has a mega-selection of formal outfits, casual clothes, shoes, beauty products and more.
Want more options? Target, Kroger, Sam’s Club and other retailers offer same-day delivery as well, and if you truly need something in a hurry, there’s always deliveries apps such as Uber One, Door Dash, Instacart and Grub Hub (free for Prime members).
Click here for ways to watch and stream the 2023 Oscars and here for details on how to watch this year’s nominated films.
See a roundup of Oscar party decorations below.
Amazon
Hicarer 32 Pieces Party Decorations Set
$7.99
For movie night or Oscar-watch parties, this 32-piece set includes red carpet cutouts, movie party cards and table toppers.
Amazon
Red Carpet Runner for Halloween Party Red Party Runner
$19.99
Ready to walk the red carpet? This set includes a VIP door cover and red carpet runner rug that measures approximately 4.5 feet long.
Amazon
gisgfim 96 Pcs Vip Paper Plate and Napkins Supplies Tableware Disposable Dessert Plates
$18.99
VIP only! Serve up appetizers, desserts and other small bites on these VIP plates with matching napkins.
Amazon
Bedwina 6″ Gold Award Trophies – Pack of 12 Bulk Golden Statues
$14.89 $18.89 21% OFF
“And the award goes to!” These six-inch trophies will make a great party favor or a prize for whoever gets the most Oscar predictions right. Click here for a printable Oscars trivia game.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Countdown to the Oscars! The 2023 Academy Awards will return to ABC on Sunday (March 12).
Rihanna and Lenny Kravitz are set to perform at the event hosted by Jimmy Kimmel live from Hollywood’s Dolby Theater.
Nominees include Michelle Yeoh, Austin Butler, Angela Bassett, Colin Farrell, Cate Blanchett, Ana de Armas, Brendan Fraser, Michelle Williams and Steven Spielberg.
Elvis, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Whale, Top Gun: Maverick, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, The Fabelmans, Tára are among this year’s Oscar-nominated films.
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Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” is nominated for best original song alongside “Applause” by Dianne Warren, “Hold My Hands” by Lady Gaga and BloodPop, “Naatu Naatu” by M.M. Keeravaani and Chandrabose, and “This Is a Life” by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski.
Michael B. Jordan, Ariana DeBose, Janelle Monáe, Questlove, Dwayne Johnson, Jonathan Majors, Zoe Saldaña, Melissa McCarthy and Deepika Padukone are among the presenters.
Model Ashley Graham, actor Vanessa Hudgens and multi-hyphenate Lilly Singh will host Countdown to the Oscars on Sunday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m. EDT/3:30 p.m. PDT on ABC. Media personality Rocsi Diaz and content creator Reece Feldman will be the correspondents for the Academy’s member viewing party in NYC.
Ahead of the pre-show, ABC News will air On The Red Carpet Live: Countdown to Oscars 95, Sunday, March 12, at 1-4 p.m. ET/10 a.m.-1 p.m PT. The pre-show coverage will also stream on ABC News Live starting at 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT.
ABC News Live Prime anchor and World News Tonight weekend anchor, Linsey Davis, and Good Morning America weekend co-anchor and World News Tonight weekend anchor, Whit Johnson, will host the red-carpet special. Joining Davis and Johnson will be ABC News correspondent Chris Connelly, ESPN’s Andscape senior entertainment reporter and ABC News contributor, Kelley Carter, and Hollywood insiders, including Variety’s Elizabeth Wagmeister and Clayton Davis, and celebrity stylist Joe Zee.
Read on for ways for watch and stream.
How to Watch the 2023 Oscars Online for Free
The 95th annual Oscars will air at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC. If you don’t already have cable, there are lots of ways to watch and stream the Oscars from your TV or laptop such as Hulu and other streamers and ABC.com (an antenna might also do the trick).
How to Watch the 2023 Oscars on Hulu
If you already have Hulu, the Oscars will be available to stream on Monday (March 13). For those who haven’t joined yet, plans start at just $6.99 a month for Hulu’s ad-supported package and $12.99 a month to watch without commercials.
Hulu (with ads)
$6.99/month
Hulu + Live TV is $69.99 to stream over 75 live channels including ABC and NBC, in addition to access to the entire Hulu streaming library, Disney+ and ESPN+.
More Ways to Watch & Stream the 2023 Oscars from Anywhere
Viewers can stream the 2023 Oscars live or on-demand on DirectTV Stream. Plans start at $69.99/month and customers can save up to $120 with the purchase of a DirectTV streaming device. Other streaming options include Verizon Fios, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Vidgo and Express VPN for those who want to stream the show internationally.
Another budget-friendly option is Fubo TV, which offers hundreds of cable, network and sports channels starting at $69.99 for the Pro package (after a free trial) for over 111 channels including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, FX, TLC, ESPN, FS1, AMC, MSNBC and Nickelodeon; plus more than 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR and unlimited streaming on up to 10 devices.
Watch the official trailer for the 2023 Oscars below.
The 95th annual Oscars are just days away, and if Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” wins the award for best original song, it will join 27 other tracks that have won an Academy Award and also reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Some of the other songs that have reached this milestone are Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper‘s A Star Is Born duet “Shallow,” Idina Menzel’s “Let It Go” from Frozen, Adele‘s “Skyfall” from the James Bond movie of the same name and many more. Five artists have each made the top 10 with two Oscar-winning songs – Barbra Streisand, Irene Cara, Jennifer Warnes, Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson.
See our full list of Oscar-winning songs have hit the Hot 100 top 10 here, and let us know your favorite by voting below.
Lenny Kravitz will deliver the In Memoriam performance at the 2023 Oscars on Sunday, March 12. The announcement was made by executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner and executive producer Molly McNearney.
The producers will continue to announce talent joining the show leading up to the ceremony. They have already announced performances of four of the five songs nominated for best original song. They have yet to announce Lady Gaga’s performance of “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick.
Kravitz reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “It Ain’t Over ’Til It’s Over” (1991) and “Again” (2001). He won four consecutive Grammy Awards for best male rock vocal performance from 1998-2001, for “Fly Away,” “American Woman,” “Again” and “Dig In.” He also appeared in such films as Precious (2009), The Hunger Games (2012), Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013) and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013).
A diverse array of performers have handled the In Memoriam performance in the past decade, including Barbra Streisand, who sang her own smash “The Way We Were” in tribute to its composer, Marvin Hamlisch; Bette Midler, who sang her own smash “Wind Beneath My Wings”; Jennifer Hudson, who sang “I Can’t Let Go” from Smash; Dave Grohl, who sang The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” Sara Bareilles, who sang Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now”; Eddie Vedder, who sang Tom Petty’s “Room at the Top”; the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which performed John Williams “Leaving Home” from Superman; and Billie Eilish & Finneas, who performed The Beatles’ “Yesterday.”
Following the In Memoriam segment on the Oscars, more than 200 filmmakers, artists and executives will be memorialized in an extended photo gallery on A.frame, the Academy’s digital magazine.
Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the 95th Oscars will air live on ABC and broadcast outlets worldwide on Sunday March 12 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The show will be held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.