More Intense Will Smith Jokes Were Cut From Oscars, Says Executive Producer And Host’s Wife
While there were multiple Will Smith jokes at the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday, reports have it that there could have been more. Molly McNearney, an executive producer of this year’s award show and wife of the host Jimmy Kennel, shared the reasons her husband did not make more jokes about the Bad Boys actor.
Speaking to Variety, she revealed that there were more of such jokes initially, but the crew had to cut them off during screening. “I cannot tell you how many Will Smith jokes we had that then we got rid of. We think that only the best for that room made it,” she stated.
According to her, they believed that it wasn’t appropriate to make some level of jokes. “There were certainly some that went harder, but we didn’t think that was our place to do that. That should be Chris Rock, not us,” she said further.
While they didn’t want to make too many jokes on the matter, they also didn’t want this year’s event to go without talking about what would be an unforgettable part of last year’s show. “I think we’re all still in a bit of shock of how that went down and how after watching that violence everyone had to then sit through an acceptance speech,” she stated.
Last year, after slapping comedian and host Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair, Will bagged the award for Best Actor for his role as Richard Williams in King Richard. He then went up to the stage to give an emotional acceptance speech.
Jimmy went back to the slap incident as early as his opening statement. “We know this is a special night for you. We want you to have fun. We want you to feel safe. And most importantly, we want me to feel safe. So we have strict policies in place. 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,” he stated.
The host then took a jab at those who attended last year’s show, saying, “Seriously, The Academy has a crisis team in place. If anything unpredictable or violent happens during the ceremony. Just do what you did last year: nothing. Sit there and do absolutely nothing. Maybe even give the assailant a hug.”
Just to be safe and avoid a repeat of the infamous slap, Jimmy warned people who “get mad at a joke” that pulling a Will Smith would not be easy this time. “There are a few of my friends you are going to have to get through first,” he said, as he went on to mention some actors’ characters, such as Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed character from Creed and Pedro Pascal’s Mandalorian character from The Mandalorian.
About two hours into the show, Jimmy came back to the stage and, with a chuckle, said, “At this point in the show, it kind of makes you miss the slapping a little bit, right?”
