It doesn’t look like Chris Rock will boycott the 88th Academy Awards over #OscarsSoWhite, but he’ll definitely have something to say about the subject when he hosts the controversial shindig on February 28. (Not that you were nervous that he wouldn’t.)
In a friendly chat with Entertainment Tonight, Academy Awards producer Reginald Hudlin stressed that the ceremony would continue with Rock as this year’s host. In addition to confirming Rock’s continued participation, Hudlin revealed that Rock and his writing team completed their writing for the show last week, but have elected to scrap that set-up in favour of new material that will address the conspicuously white nominee slate.
“You should expect [#OscarsSoWhite jokes],” Hudlin told ET. “And, yes, the Academy is ready for him to do that. They’re excited about him doing that. They know that’s what we need. They know that’s what the public wants, and we deliver what the people want.”
It sounds like we’re in for a productively squeamish evening!
Speaking of questions circling back to the prospect of a Chris Rock boycott, TMZ caught up to both Rock and Dave Chappelle as they exited a comedy club. The Top Five comedian remained fairly tightlipped when peppered with questions about possibly sitting the show out, but didn’t say anything suggesting he was likely to step away from his (current) MC duties.
(via The Hollywood Reporter)
