Will Smith still wants to see the 2022 Oscar engraving

The 2023 Oscars may have gone off without a hitch, but Academy President Janet Yang is ready to say hello to Will Smith … to a degree.

After Smith slapped host Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, the Best Actor award was banned from all Academy events for the next decade; However, Smith is still a candidate. said Yang, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Hollywood Reporter that Smith would like to have his nameplate engraved on the Oscar statue, since the “King Richard” actor did not attend the Governors’ Ball after last year’s ceremony, where nameplates are added to the awards.

“He deserved the Oscar,” Yang said. “Your name should be engraved on it.” I don’t know if you should come in person. But yes, we can handle it.”

Reflecting on her initial reaction when Smith attacked Rock onstage last year, Yang said, “We were really numb. Like everybody else, at the beginning, when Will goes on stage, we’re like, “Oh, that’s a funny thing. He’ll pretend to slap you and then Chris will act shocked. Then he said, “Okay, that’s over.” Then he sits back down and starts yelling – at which point, of course, everyone said, “Oh my God, it’s real.”

Jimmy Kimmel, host of the 2023 Oscars, talked about the infamous Oscar slap in his opening monologue.

“We want you to have fun, we want you to be safe, and most importantly, we want me to be safe,” Kimmel said. “If someone in this theater commits an act of violence during the show, they get the Oscar for Best Actor and they get to give an 18-minute speech.”

Kimmel noted that a “crisis team” is in place, but in case things go sideways, he joked, “Just do what you did last year — nothing. Sit down and do nothing. Maybe hug the attacker.”

Halle Berry also took over Smith’s hosting duties when she presented the Best Actress award to “Everything Everywhere All at Once” star Michelle Yeoh.

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