Jimmy Kimmel facing backlash over jokes during Oscars 2023: 'Lowkey cringe AF'

If you weren't watching the ceremony live and were just glancing at Twitter to follow the movie mecca, you might have thought Will Smith was at the 2023 Oscars. The actor was, in fact, trending on Twitter. However, he was obviously not at the Dolby Theater on Hollywood Boulevard for the occasion.

'Makes you miss the slapping a little bit'

And for good reason, a year after slapping Chris Rock in the middle of the 2022 Oscars ceremony, the actor was banned from the Academy for ten years. This slap, which sparked so much talk, was still in everyone's minds this Monday 13 March. Viewers around the world were thinking about it, and they were not the only ones.

The ceremony, presented by Jimmy Kimmel, was full of references to Will Smith's slap last year. The host never hesitated to slip in a few little jokes about it. Kimmel even said:

At this point in the show, it kind of makes you miss the slapping a little bit, right?

A 'sh**ty rehearsal comic'

This was enough to steal the show from Rihanna, who (re)revealed her baby bump on stage and on the red carpet. Many Internet users regretted the unnecessary and excessive jokes about this unfortunate event on Twitter, saying Kimmel was 'tiresome', 'cringe', and the Oscars was 'so awkward with him as host'.

At the beginning of the 95th Academy Awards, Kimmel opened his speech by saying:

We want you to have fun, feel safe and, most importantly, we want me feel safe. So, we have strict policies in pace. If anyone in this theater 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.

Read more ⋙ Will Smith: This isn’t the first time the actor has been violent in public

He continued:

But seriously, 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.

Statements that have certainly not gone unnoticed.

Read more:

⋙ Will Smith: The actor had a troubling childhood according to close friend

⋙ Will Smith: Old video of the actor snapping at Jada has resurfaced

This article has been translated from Ohmymag FR.

Sources used:

Twitter