Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel started the 95th Academy Awards with a joke about last year's infamous incident of actor Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock. "Five Irish actors are nominated tonight, which means the chances of a fight just went way up," Kimmel joked. "We want you to have fun, feel safe and, most importantly, we want me to feel safe. So, we have strict policies in place. If anyone in this theatre commits an act of violence at any point during the show, you will be awarded the Oscar for best actor and permitted to give a 19-minute long speech," Kimmel said.
"The academy has a crisis team in place. If anything unpredictable or violent happens during the show, sit there and do absolutely nothing. Maybe even give the assailant a hug. And if any of you get mad at a joke and decide you want to get jiggy with it — it's not going to be easy," Kimmel concluded.
Kimmel is no stranger to Oscars controversy, having hosted the 2017 Oscars where La La Land was incorrectly announced as the winner for best picture. Kimmel was forced to navigate a tricky situation after the La La Land producers and cast took the stage to accept the Oscar, only for Moonlight to be then announced as the correct winner.
Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars while the latter was presenting the award for best documentary feature category. Chris Rock made a controversial joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's bald head, which she shaved following an alopecia diagnosis. After the slap, WIll Smith returned to his seat and repeatedly screamed at Chris Rock, "Keep my wife's name out your f***ing mouth!" The ceremony continued with Will Smith remaining in attendance as he won the best actor Oscar for his performance in King Richard.
Will Smith resigned from the Academy a few days after the Oscars ceremony, writing in a statement, "I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken." It took several more days for the Academy to announce it was revoking Smith's AMPAS membership and banning him from attending the Oscars ceremonies for 10 years.
Elsewhere in his monologue, Kimmel brought up the absences of Tom Cruise and James Cameron at the 2023 ceremony, joking, "You know, Tom and James Cameron didn't show up tonight. The two guys who insisted we go to the theatre didn't come to the theatre."