Last year, during the 94th Oscar Awards gala, actor Will Smith starred in a controversial situation that has been a topic of conversation at the recent celebration of the Oscar 2023 nominees luncheon. During last year’s ceremony, host Chris Rock joked about Will Smith’s wife’s alopecia, which led the actor to slap her in the face in front of a stunned audience. Minutes later, Smith took the stage to receive the award for best actor for his role in the film “The Williams Method.” The Hollywood Academy, chaired by Janet Yang, did not take immediate action on what happened, which generated criticism and controversy on social networks.
At the 2023 Oscar nominees luncheon, the president of the Hollywood Academy admitted that the organization did not handle last year’s situation correctly and that its response was not up to par. Janet Yang expressed her commitment to act with greater transparency and accountability, acknowledging that what happened was a turning point for improving and learning from mistakes.
The luncheon brought together prominent film personalities, such as filmmaker Steven Spielberg, nominated this year for his film “The Fabelmans,” actor Tom Cruise, who is competing as a producer for his work in “Top Gun: Maverick,” director Guillermo del Toro, who will attend the gala this year for his animated film “Pinocchio,” and actress Michelle Yeoh, nominated for an Oscar for her role in the film “Everything, Everywhere at Once.”
The 95th Oscar Awards will be held on March 12 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, and the Academy has expressed its commitment to ensuring a ceremony that reflects the values of faith, unity, and solidarity between the industry and the audience.