Chris Rock has reportedly scrapped his original script, and is preparing a new routine for next month’s Academy Awards, in light of #OscarsSoWhite and the recent flurry of black members of Hollywood that have chosen to boycott the show. The awards’ producer, Reginald Hudlin, confirmed that Rock would be staying on as host, and in fact, told him, “I’m throwing out the show I wrote and writing a new show.”
“Chris is hard at work. He and his writing staff locked themselves in a room,” said Hudlin to ET in an exclusive interview. He also mentioned that #OscarsSoWhite jokes should be expected, and that the Academy will be embracing his new performance. “They’re [the Academy] 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.”
With all the controversy and discussions surrounding this year’s Academy Awards, there’s no doubt it’ll be one of the most watched ceremonies in recent history, and it’ll be interesting to see which lines Rock toes, if he doesn’t stomp all over them.
