Academy admits it can't stop Banksy from accepting an Oscar in a monkey mask

By Sean O'Neal | February 23, 2011 | 5:20pm

Aux Features Film

Backing away, slightly, from the anti-monkey mask sentiments of earlier this month, Academy president Tom Sherak now seems open to the idea of Banksy claiming an Oscar for Exit Through The Gift Shop, even in disguise. Sherak does say that he would prefer Banksy “respect the night” and not use his shenanigans to disrupt a night of staid, dignified, virtual reality journeys through time, but he now admits that it’s not like anyone is going to stand up and say something like, “Hey, get out of here, Mr. Monkey Mask—Randy Newman is trying to sing about the feelings of toys.” And again, while he’d rather Banksy not come up if he’s going to wear a mask, Sherak adds, “Does that mean he couldn't run on? Sure he could. Listen, he'd run right over me. I'm not gonna stand up to stop him. Nobody is, that's not what we do. Would this be fun? I guess to some people.” You people, with your sick sense of fun.

Of course, chances of Banksy appearing with or without his mask seems pretty slim; more likely, as The Hollywood Reporter points out, is that Banksy’s reps would send someone to accept on his behalf, like Heath Ledger’s family collecting his posthumous Oscar, or Marlon Brando sending American Indian Rights activist Sacheen Littlefeather to turn down his award for The Godfather. At this point, of course, the anticipation has become so great that the only way it won’t be anticlimactic is if Banksy sends actual monkeys. So please, send actual monkeys.