As Academy’s diversity initiative looms, some wonder if viewers will still be watching: ‘Oscars are dead’

Oscars as he won the award for Best Actor at the star-studded event. But earlier that night, the King Richard actor took to the stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.Jada had shared last year how she had shaved her hair following a battle with alopecia.Following his remark, Will took to the stage and slapped Chris before telling him to not speak his wife’s name.He could be heard shouting from his seat: “Keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth.”Denzel, 67, was one of the first people to console Will in the immediate aftermath.Will, who faces disciplinary action from the Academy, announced his resignation from the awards body on Friday (1 April).Denzel has since spoken publicly about the events which took place at the awards ceremony for the first time at a Leadership Summit in Washington DC.During the actor's tearful speech for last Sunday, Will told the audience that Denzel issued him a word of caution, saying: “In your highest moments, be careful; that’s when the devil comes for you.”According to reports, Denzel has since confirmed the comments he made to his pal.“There’s a saying when the devil ignores you, then you know you’re doing something wrong," he explained."The devil goes, ‘Oh, no, leave him alone, he’s my favourite.’"He added: “Conversely, when the devil comes at you, maybe it’s because he’s trying to do something right.

slapped comedian Chris Rock in face at the Oscars over a joke about his wife.In a sketch taking place at the Oscars, host Jerrod Carmichael plays a seat filler who gets opportunity to meet one of his heroes, Will Smith, played by Chris Redd. The two strike up an innocuous, friendly conversation and the filler asks Smith for a selfie when suddenly the audio of Chris Rock’s “G.I.

Will Smith following his altercation with Chris Rock at this year’s Oscars.During the ceremony on March 27, Rock made a “joke” on stage about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith, referring to her as “G.I. Jane” because of her shaven head.

Saweetie, Chloe Bailey and Summer Walker brought their megawatt glamour to the Recording Academy Honors presented by the Black Music Collective on Saturday.The star-studded event took place in Las Vegas one night before the Grammy Awards were to take place in the same city, and saw John Legend garlanded with a Global Impact Award.For her latest red carpet appearance Saweetie, 28, was a sizzling sensation in a shimmering green gown that was skintight to accentuate her hourglass figure. What a night: (from left) Saweetie, Chloe Bailey and Summer Walker brought their megawatt glamour to the Recording Academy Honors presented by the Black Music Collective on Saturday Trophy in hand:The star-studded event took place in Las Vegas one night before the Grammy Awards were to take place in the same city, and saw John Legend garlanded with a Global Impact AwardThe rap star, whose real name is Diamonte Harper, was draped in an outfit that featured a turtleneck and full sleeves as well as a frilled asymmetric hem.Her peekaboo ensemble enabled her to flash the flesh during the red carpet portion of the event, playing up not just her trim midriff but also her derriere and her shapely legs.

returned over the weekend with a whole lot of material, thanks to Will Smith's actions at this year's Oscars.Many expected the slap heard 'round the world to be the primary focus of the night's cold open — although the show instead opted to for politically-focused sketch that only touched on the slap, via James Austin Johnson's Donald Trump.However, first-time host Jerrod Carmichael made sure to address the elephant in the room in his hilarious debut monologue. Additionally, Michael Che and Colin Jost didn't hold back while mocking the controversy during Weekend Update. And then there was the sketch that took fans back to the night in question with an up close and personal look at what it was like for the people around Smith during the altercation.Here's a roundup of how this week's dealt with the largest pop culture news story in recent memory.Carmichael plays an Oscars seat filler who is overjoyed to be sitting next to his Hollywood hero, Will Smith.

It was probably inevitable — Saturday Night Live did its own interpretation of the altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Oscars. The skit did not show the slap, instead focusing on Will Smith, played by Chris Redd, who is having a conversation with a seat filler, played by host Jerrod Carmichael, during Chris Rock’s speech.

Tonight on SNL, Weekend Update‘s anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che made every Will Smith joke they’d been holding onto over the course of the past week, following the Oscar winner’s slap of Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards.

“Thank you. Thank you very, very much. I’m not going to talk about it,” actor-comedian Jerrod Carmichael said up top, in his first opening monologue as host of SNL. “I want to be clear up top: I’ve talked about it enough, kept talking about it, kept thinking about it. I don’t want to talk about it, and you can’t make me talk about it.”

Jerrod Carmichael made his hosting debut on this weekend and used his monologue to address the elephant in the room — the Will Smith/Chris Rock Oscars slap, and the endless social dialog that has erupted from it.And, to show just how endless the debate and controversy has been, he doesn't, not once, need to say Smith or Rock's name.«I'm not going to talk about it. I want to be clear up top. I talked about it enough. Kept talking about it.

A comedian said he felt let down by Will Smith’s Oscars attack after it overshadowed the three awards won by Coda.

Parents have been warned not to let their children watch terrifying videos of a killer teddy called "Huggy Wuggy".Police have issued a warning after some kids were seen recreating the bear's actions on the playground.On TikTok, "Huggy Wuggy" sings about "hugging and killing" and also asks those watching to "take their last breath".The videos - which began as a puzzle game that sees Huggy stalking players in a toy factory - are said to be traumatising young children.Chris Conroy, a cyber protection officer for Dorset Police, told The Sun: "There are videos people have made, songs people have made, and it's popping up all over YouTube and TikTok using this quite graphic imagery of this bear-like character with razor-sharp teeth."It's based around jump scares and things you certainly wouldn't want children exposed to."As the game becomes more popular, officers warn that some children have been seen acting out the game at school.They report that children have been whispering disturbing lyrics to each other on the playground.One line from the video says: "I could hug you here forever, till you breathe your last breath together."Another says: "My teeth sharp and ready, in my grasp, yeah they're deadly".The blue bear also invites people to "lean in for a spine-breaking embrace".Numerous parents have come forward to express their concern over the character, with one describing it as "frightening as a lot of parents will be oblivious to this level of violence our children are being exposed to."Mum-of-two Rhia Fearn, 35, said she was left shocked when her son Harrison, five, came home from school asking about the character.She said: "Kids want to play the games of Huggy Wuggy, they are talking about it in the playground."It's

extraordinary attack on presenter Chris Rock during the awards ceremony ended all that. And if Smith believes his resignation from Hollywood’s film academy this weekend might draw a line under the affair, he will be disappointed. Although the 53-year-old is unlikely to be stripped of his best actor statuette, his commercial appeal to producers has been seriously damaged.

Gogglebox star Mica Ven revealed her own personal battle with alopecia on last night’s show. The cast, including Mica and her partner Marcus Luther, viewed the viral Oscars moment where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock for a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith. In case you missed it, Will stormed the stage at the awards ceremony and slapped comedian Chris after he likened Jada to the fictional action character GI Jane, who shaves her head.

Pointless were left emotional after an episode Tom Parker appeared in aired after his death aged 33.  The Wanted star, who had been battling a stage four glioblastoma brain tumour, had filmed for the show with bandmate Max George late last year.  The episode was brought forward to air in the first slot after his death on Wednesday, a decision which was made with the ‘full support and blessing of Tom’s family’, a voiceover informed.

Ant and Dec they 'weren't going to believe her' when she told them her full name. She was joining the lads on stage for a game as she tried to guess what song a child was humming along to.

READ MORE: Where BBC Eldorado stars are now from marriage to Only Fools legend to sad death at just 55He was given just a year and a half to live initially, but was able to extend his prognosis with several rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. He left behind his wife Kelsey and their two children, two-year-old Aurelia and one-year-old Bodhi. He died around lunchtime surrounded by his friend and family on March 30.

Pointless fans were left feeling inspired and moved by the late Tom Parker's appearance on a celebrity special episode which aired on Saturday (April 2). The Wanted singer sadly passed away this week at the age of 33, following a battle with brain cancer. Playing in a team with fellow band member and friend Max George, his episode was filmed in late 2021, but with the consent of Tom's family, the BBC confirmed that their appearance would be moved forward in the schedules.

Will Smith's films are reportedly set to be on hold following him slapping Chris Rock at Oscars 2022. Will's upcoming movies at Netflix and Sony are allegedly getting pushed back, including the production of the widely anticipated Bad Boys 4 and Fast and Loose, reports The Hollywood Reporter.The streaming giants have moved the 53-year-old actor's projects to the back burner in the wake of the controversy from his shocking Oscars slap.The film was initially meant to be directed by Deadpool 2 director David Leitch but he had withdrawn from the project just a week before the Oscars.Netflix reportedly was hesitant to move forward with Will in the starring role following his controversial attack on live television, reports THR.It comes after Will had resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences after his controversial on-stage slap.In a statement released on Friday evening (1 April) he announced his decision to leave the organisation.The incident began when comedian Chris joked about Jada Pinkett Smith's buzzcut, quipping: "Jada, can't wait for GI Jane 2."Will — who went on to win Best Actor later in the evening — walked up to the stage and hit the presenter, before returning to his seat and yelling: "Keep my wife's name out of your f****** mouth."His latest statement of apology on Friday read: "I have directly responded to the Academy's disciplinary hearing notice, and I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct.

SIMON Cowell has revealed that his hand is still in a cast two months after his terrifying bike crash. The TV judge could be seen walking around the America's Got Talent studios with the black and grey support on his wrist.

Bill Maher is addressing Will Smith and Chris Rock‘s 2022 Oscars incident.

Tim Gray Senior Vice PresidentUCLA’s latest Hollywood Diversity Report found some improvement in 2022 in regards to hiring women and people of color, but activist group FWD-Doc is demanding that UCLA address other overlooked groups such as LGBTQIA+ individuals and the “invisible minority” — disabled people — in the industry.Jim LeBrecht, co-founder of FWD-Doc and co-director of the Oscar-nominated documentary “Crip Camp” (2020), states, “UCLA’s report that stands for promoting diversity is an egregious case of exclusion and perpetuates the misconception that people with disabilities do not exist in the entertainment industry. In light of ‘CODA’s’ three Oscar wins at the recent 94th Academy Awards ceremony, this oversight reinforces FWD-Doc’s assertion that this report is incomplete and not comprehensive.” He adds that other groups have been under-represented, such as LGBTQIA+ people, but were ignored in the study.The ninth annual report, from UCLA’s Division of Social Sciences, covers the top 200 theatrical English-language releases in 2021, ranked by global box office, as well as all major streaming films based on total household ratings.