Chris Rock
After Will Smith’s slap: Will he host the 2023 Oscars?
Chris Rock and Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars
© Neilson Barnard / Getty Images
Will Smith’s slap in the face to Chris Rock at this year’s Oscars went around the world. While Will has been banned from the Oscars for ten years, ABC’s entertainment boss wants Chris to attend the 2023 Oscars as well.
It’s been almost two months since the Oscar scandal surrounding actor Will Smith’s slap in the face, 53, against colleague Chris Rock, 57, was played up and down in the media. In the days that followed, the coverage of even the smallest news about the case would not die down. In the meantime the situation has calmed down a bit. Will Smith has voluntarily resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and has been banned from the Oscars for ten years. It was said from all sides that Chris Rock had to process what had happened first, but would probably never forgive Smith for the action.
Chris Rock to host Oscars 2023?
But while Chris Rock isn’t taking Will Smith’s apology for now, at least the Academy could make amends with the 57-year-old. Shortly after the incident, she was criticized for acting too late and not referring Will to the ceremony. So it’s possible that Chris will play a role at next year’s Oscars – and not a small one at that.
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Craig Erwich, president of entertainment at broadcast TV network ABC, told news site Deadline that Chris Rock could host the 2023 Oscars. This year, the ceremony was hosted by actress trio Wanda Sykes, 58, Amy Schumer, 40, and Regina Hall, 51.
The next Oscars should be even better
Craig Erwich is satisfied with the success of this year’s Oscars, which, with 16.6 million viewers, achieved an increase in audience of almost 60 percent. “My take on the Oscars was that it really was a successful year for the show. Of course, there was a lot of controversy that overshadowed a lot of the positive things about the show, but I was really happy with the program.” Nevertheless, the ABC Entertainment boss also admits: “There is always something to learn and we will strive to do even better next year.”
Surely those responsible will ensure that an incident like that with Will Smith and Chris Rock does not happen again.
Sources used: deadline.com, hollywoodlife.com, latimes.com, hollywoodreporter.com