Oscar’s response to Smith’s slap was insufficient, says academy dean

Beverly Hills, California – Monday’s slap sits front and center oscar nominee Lunch.

so much so that the dean of the film academy Jenny Yang don’t have to describe it or name it will smith or chris rock Let the ballroom full of award hopefuls know what she’s talking about when she expresses regret.

“I’m sure you all remember that we had an unprecedented event at the Oscars,” Young told the crowd, which included Tom Cruise. Angela Bassett, Cate Blanchett and Steven Spielberg in her opening credits. “What happened on stage is totally unacceptable and the response from our organization has been inadequate.”

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has had little to no response to Smith’s actions during or immediately after rushing onto the stage and slapping the rock during last year’s Oscars.After nearly two weeks, its council voted to ban smith from the oscars and all other college activities for 10 years. Smith has preemptively resigned as a Fellow of the Academy.

“We learned from this that the Academy must be fully transparent and accountable in our actions,” Yang said, “especially in times of crisis, you have to act quickly, compassionately and decisively for ourselves and our industry. You It should and can be expected that there will be fewer ways forward without us.”

Yang, who was not yet the president at the time, was interrupted by a burst of gentle applause, without saying anything, and switched to a more pleasant topic.

She got a round of applause when she told the nominees that all categories would be televised live on ABC on March 12.Last year, in a controversy largely overshadowed by slaps, several Oscars presented at pre-television ceremony An edited version of the winner’s speech was squeezed into the main program.

The luncheon is a warm, convivial event, and the nominees are often treated equally, with the relative unknown for Best Animated Short likely to sit next to the A-lister for Best Actor.

Of course, some people get more attention than others and don’t need to wear the name tags that are handed out to everyone.

Tom Cruise, nominated for best picture nomination as producer of Top Gun: Maverick, managed to briefly mingle with the crowd at the Beverly Hilton ballroom before he attracted a crowd of onlookers .

He and Jamie Lee Curtis, who were competing for Best Supporting Actress for “Everything at the Same Time,” put their foreheads together and giggled as they bumped into each other.

He smiled big once when he posed for a photo with his old “War of the Worlds” and “Minority Report” collaborator Steven Spielberg,” Most nominated film of the year.

Among the paired representations of the seemingly random seating chart, Odessa Rae, producer of the nominated documentary feature film “Navalny,” sat down with tablemate and Best Actor nominee Colin Odessa during a lunch of risotto and scalloped oyster mushrooms. Farrell chatting.

At another table nearby, Best Supporting Actor nominee Brian Tyree Henry for “The Causeway” and Jenny S. Lei Te laughed together.

The centerpiece of the luncheon was the class photo, set up to feel like a high school graduation. A dean read the names of the 182 nominees, and their peers cheered as they stepped forward and took their seats on the risers.

“Jamie Lee Curtis,” producer Devon Franklin yelled into the microphone. As Curtis climbed to the top floor alone, she jumped to her feet, to rapturous applause.

Standing at his desk, Henry, the first-time nominee, raised an arm and yelled when his name was called.

Ke Huiquan, Another newcomer, Best Supporting Actor for “Everything at the Same Time,” ran up to the spot ahead of him, pumping his fists in triumph. He hugged “Babylon” composer Justin Hurwitz, who was assigned to stand next to him.

Bassett, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” got one of the biggest ovations of the afternoon when her name was called, as she walked to take her place next to Cruise , she hugged Cruise.

The luncheon also serves as an orientation event for potential Academy Award winners. Yang stressed that acceptance speeches at next month’s awards ceremony must be kept to 45 seconds or less.

“Let’s say it together, 45 seconds,” she told the crowd.

They repeated it to her in unison, though at least some of them were sure to forget—or ignore her—after getting the statue.

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Follow Associated Press entertainment writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton