The Oscars create an anti-crisis committee to avoid controversies like that of Will Smith and “be prepared for anything”

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decides not to risk it after what happened last year with Will Smith and Chris Rock and created an “anti-crisis team” to resolve any disputes that may arise during the awards ceremony.

The slap Smith gave Rock was the talk of the whole world and the days following the gala. A controversy that has spread like wildfire, tarnishing the reputation of an award ceremony who is not prepared for this situation to repeat itself: “I’m sure everyone remembers what happened at the previous gala, an unprecedented event at the Oscars. What happened on stage was completely unacceptable and the response from our organization was inadequate.”confesses the president of the Academy, Janet Yang, in Variety.

While the Academy didn’t stand by and watch Smith’s performance, Yang herself reveals what it was Biggest Mistake They Made: Waiting Too Too Long: “In times of crisis, you must act quickly, compassionately and firmly, for us and for our industry. Less should not and cannot be expected of us in the future”promises Yang.

Bill Kramer, CEO of the institute, also justifies build this team. Kramer confesses that these pros are putting themselves in almost every possible situation: “We have decided to open our minds to anything that could happen at the Oscars. These crisis plans, the communication teams and the structures that we follow allow us to quickly know who we need to meet. This team will create the communications, of course, depending of the details of the crisis.

It’s the first time the Oscars have had a controversy-oriented committee. For now its function is one, imagine events and propose a possible management: “We’ve gone through a lot of what-if scenarios, so we expect to be prepared for anything that we can’t predict right now, but will have planned ahead of time.”Kramer says.

Smith’s apology

Ten years without being able to attend the gala. This was the sanction that the genius of ‘Aladdin’ received following the slap given to Rock after he joked about alopecia of Jada Pinkett Smith, Smith’s wife.

The best leading actor of 2022 has already apologized twice, to the comedian and to the public. The first one the day after the gala. Already with a cool head, Smith wrote his apology to Rock on his Instagram account: “Violence in all its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards is unacceptable and without apology.”, speculated the actor. Four months later, the topic came up again on Smith’s YouTube channel, where he answered questions from fans interested in the controversy: “There’s not a single part of me that thinks that was an optimal way to deal with disrespect or name-calling.”.

The actor is sorry, there is no doubt about this, however the decision is firm. Smith will not be able to return to the Oscars until the 1932 edition.