Stars, cameras, dazzling dresses and red carpet – all the essential ingredients of the Oscars. But this year, one of those elements gets a makeover.
At Wednesday’s Oscars carpet-rolling event in Los Angeles, it was revealed that during Sunday’s show, the stars will walk on a champagne-colored carpet, instead of the iconic red carpet.
Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel was outside the Dolby Theater on Wednesday to present the big news, joking that “no blood will be shed” on the light-colored floor, in reference to the infamous Will Smith Incident at last year’s show, in which Smith took the stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock.
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“People asked, will there be any problems this year?” said Kimmel. “Will there be violence this year? We certainly hope not, but if there is, I think the decision to go for a champagne carpet over a red carpet shows how much we we are confident that no blood will be shed.”
The red carpet has been a mainstay of the Oscars, where celebrities show off their outfits to the world upon arriving at the show. In fact, the star-studded catwalk has been red since the 33rd Academy Awards in 1961, reports the Associated Press. It was also the first televised version of the awards show, though not in color.
The Oscars are the latest in a series of ceremonies and events that are shaking up red carpet tradition. For example, last year’s Emmys carpet was gold, and this year’s Golden Globes carpet was gray.
Lisa Love, Vogue contributor and creative consultant for this year’s Oscars, made the decision to change the mat, according to the AP, which she said was not a controversial choice among organizers.
Love also told the AP that organizers also opted for a lighter-colored canopy cover. The red carpet will be covered at the top with a sienna-coloured awning.
“It’s just a levity and I hope people like it,” Love said, according to the AP. “That doesn’t mean it will always be a champagne-colored carpet.”