Will Smith’s Infamous Oscars Slap Prompts Academy To Hire “Crisis Team”
For the first time in its 95-year existence, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has engaged a “Crisis Team” to prepare for any potential incident.
Why the need for a Crisis Team now?
“We have a whole crisis team, something we’ve never had before, and many plans in place,” CEO Bill Kramer told Time magazine. “We’ve run many scenarios. So it is our hope that we will be prepared for anything that we may not anticipate right now but that we’re planning for just in case it does happen.”
Of course, the preparedness has everything to do with last year’s infamous slap, when Will Smith stormed the stage to hit Chris Rock across the face after Rock made an offensive remark about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, while presenting the Oscar for best documentary. Following the incident, the academy was condemned for its tardy response and inaction.
If something goes wrong during this year’s Oscars event, the crisis team will assist in determining who will be the spokesperson, who will make statements, and what additional actions are necessary.
According to crisis public relations specialists, the Academy is certainly planning for everything from difficult speeches to fashion disasters to a refined version of “the slap.” The crisis team will plan for every possible situation before taking action should things go awry.
What is ‘The Slap’?
“The slap” refers to an incident that occurred during the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022. Actor Will Smith walked onstage and appeared to slap comedian Chris Rock across the face after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. “Wow, dude! It was a G.I. Jane joke!” Chris Rock said, right after “The Slap.” The incident caused a stir and was widely reported in the media.
Bill Kramer, chief executive officer of the Academy, agreed that their response to last year’s incident was poor and might have been more prompt. He stated that this year’s level of preparedness helped them face the controversial nomination of Andrea Riseborough for an Oscar in 2023. Their minds have been opened to a variety of Oscars-related possibilities as a result of role-playing. According to Kramer, a skilled team will enable the academy to adapt to real-world situations.
Meanwhile, Chris Rock has addressed the infamous Oscars slap by Will Smith in a brutal stand-up routine for Netflix’s first live special, “Selective Outrage.”
In conclusion, engaging a crisis team is crucial to ensuring that any unanticipated situations are dealt with professionally and effectively. It is evident that The Academy is taking preemptive measures to avert controversy during this year’s Oscars presentation.
Source – Tru News Report
