No more red carpet at Oscars? Why champagne will be the color for this year's ceremony

'I think we can go with a champagne ... because of how confident we are that no blood will be shed,' host Jimmy Kimmel said.

ByMarc Cota-Robles and Rob Hayes KABC logo

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Este artículo se ofrece en Español

Oscars 'red' carpet to be champagne color this year

For the first time in more than six decades, the Oscars aren't rolling out the red carpet, but instead are opting for a champagne color.

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- For the first time in more than six decades, Hollywood's biggest night isn't rolling out the red carpet.

The celebrated carpet at the Oscars -- the place where stars show off their most elegant and outrageous fashions -- will be a "champagne" color this year.

It will be the first time since 1961 that the carpet at the Oscars isn't red.

Crew members roll out the carpet outside the Dolby Theatre on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in Los Angeles in preparation for Sunday's 95th Academy Awards.
AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

So, why is the red carpet champagne colored for the Oscars this year?

Academy CEO Bill Kramer said the arrivals line will get a more "lux" look with red drapes on all sides in contrast with a champagne-colored carpet, according to the Associated Press.

The idea came from creative consultants Lisa Love, a longtime Vogue contributor, and Raúl vila, the creative director for the glamorous Met Gala in New York.

"We chose this beautiful sienna, saffron color that evokes the sunset, because this is the sunset before the golden hour," Love told the AP.

Joe Lewis, a red carpet producer, said that so far, the rollout has gone well.

"With bold new leadership comes bold decisions. We haven't had this significant of a change in over 15, 20 years, and this is a pretty bold one. But I think the world will let us know what they think," said Lewis.

Host Jimmy Kimmel was present for the unveiling, and, of course, had some funny things to say on the change.

"I think we can go with a champagne carpet instead of a red carpet because of how confident we are that no blood will be shed," said Kimmel.

Fans of the awards show took notice of the carpet change as well.

"It seems a pity because the red carpet is so famous, isn't it?" said Ian Logan, a tourist from England. "Just doesn't seem quite right to change it."

This year the carpet will also be covered, in part to protect the stars and cameras from the weather, but also to help turn the arrivals into an evening event.

"We turned a day event into night," Love told The Associated Press. "It's evening, even though it's still 3:00."