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The red carpet at the Oscars has evolved into a renowned symbol of glitz and flair and is one of the most identifiable aspects of the occasion. However, the 2023 Academy Awards carpet is champagne hue, a break with a 62-year tradition of the bright red rug.
Many event enthusiasts are questioning why the color was altered, and this adjustment has created quite a stir among them.
The academy’s welcome carpeting has been red for more than 60 years, but this year’s host Jimmy Kimmel quipped at the unveiling on Thursday that the color change was due to Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock across the face onstage at the previous ceremony.
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The color reveal shocked many who were there for it, and speculation about the reason for the change has been rampant ever since.
According to People, the reason for the change is simple: The Academy is trying something new. “People have been asking, ‘Is there going to be any trouble this year? Is there going to be any violence this year?’ And we certainly hope not,” Jimmy shared during a clip from the roll-out by the AP. “But if there is, I think the decision to go with a champagne carpet rather than a red carpet shows how confident we are that no blood will be shed.”
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The #OscarsSoWhite movement and the incident surrounding the incorrect Best Picture announcement in 2017 are just two examples of recent controversy and unfavorable press surrounding the Oscars.
The Academy might be trying to say something about wanting to start over and get away from this negativity by altering the carpet’s color.
The 50,000-square-foot rug, which was created in a color chosen by the academy, is the latest in a trend of colorful carpets sweeping premieres, galas and award ceremonies across the country, from the Emmys (gold) to the Golden Globes (gray) to the purple-carpeted world premiere of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” in Los Angeles in November.
Also read: In Pictures: Iconic Oscars looks over the years
The 2023 Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 12, and air on ABC from the Dolby Theatre at 8 p.m.
