Jimmy Kimmel, who will host the Academy Awards 2023 exactly one year after that infamous slap of Will Smith has made likely one of the least desirable jobs in recent Academy Awards history.
In recent times, Academy Awards hosting has been a popular topic of conversation for the past year and has spawned an abundance of humorous memes.
The Oscars’ ratings are also at an all-time low, so Kimmel must deal with a situation that could be considered a wild card. Jimmy Kimmel did not want a repeat of last year’s incident when the award show’s ratings increased solely due to the slap, never under his watch.
Jimmy Kimmel was forthright and honest when asked how he would approach it with his unique brand of comedy.
In an interview with Hollywood Reporter, he stated they would walk off if slapped on stage. “If somebody comes up on the stage and slaps me? Well, I size them up, and, if I’m bigger than they are, I beat the s-t out of them on television. And if it’s the Rock, I run. Well, whatever I say about it, it’s going to have to be great, right? Because so much has been said and there’s so much focus on it. I obviously don’t want to make the whole monologue about that, but it would be ridiculous not to mention it.’
Will Smith and Chris Rock also had embarrassing Oscars moments within recent memory. Jimmy Kimmel was directly responsible for another error during the 2017 ceremony. When the final award of the evening was announced, everyone realized the incorrect name. Due to his efforts to handle the situation as best he could, the Academy even asked Kimmel to host the 2018 ceremony. Jimmy Kimmel will host the Oscars in 2023 for the third time as a comedy host. In the history of television, only eight other individuals have presided over these ceremonies more than twice. This award show is in danger of extinction due to low ratings unless another incident similar to the slap occurs.