Pepper spray will be included in this year's Oscar goody bags. The gift bags are given to Oscar nominees each year by companies promoting their products, and usually contain luxury items like jewelry, cosmetics, and plane tickets. This year's Oscar gift bag also includes a key ring-sized pepper spray, a gel pepper spray, two personal body alarms and a kit that tells you if your drink has been drugged. The company that makes the safety products told "Yahoo" that it's lending a helping hand in the MeToo movement by offering products aimed at the "harassment culture" that's pervasive in the entertainment industry.
The 90th Annual Oscars are set for Sunday, March 4th on ABC at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PT.
After last year’s infamous envelope fiasco (La La Land was temporarily the Best Picture winner until everyone figured out it was actually Moonlight), the spotlight is brighter than ever this year.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
- The Red Carpet coverage kicks off at 6:30 p.m. EST. This awards season, in the midst of Time’s Up and the #MeToo Movement, has been increasingly political, with many celebrities speaking out on the Red Carpet.
- One of the red carpet hosts, Ryan Seacrest for E!, has also recently been accused of sexual misconduct (claims he denies), which is reportedly creating behind-the-scenes drama with publicists and celebs being unsure of whether they should grant him an interview.
- Jimmy Kimmel is back as host for the second year, as the first person to host two ceremonies in a row since Billy Crystal’s 1997-1998 run.
- There are nine films in the running for Best Picture. The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro's fantasy drama, leads the pack with 13 nominations. Christopher Nolan's WWII drama Dunkirk is second with eight.
- Other factoids of interest: Logan (the final film in Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine series) became the first superhero film to be adapted for Best Adapted Screenplay. Rachel Morrison became the first woman to be nominated for Best Cinematography for her work on Netflix’s Mudbound. Meryl Streep and John Williams broke their own records, nabbing their 21st and 51st Oscar nomination for The Post and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, respectively.
- Also of note: Kobe Bryant is the first NBA player to get a nomination for his animated short Dear Basketball. Dee Rees is the first queer black woman to be nominated for writing (Mudbound), and Yance Ford is the first openly transgender director nominee (Strong Island).
- The frontrunners: Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour) for Best Actor, Frances McDormand (Three Billboards) for Best Actress, Allison Janney (I, Tonya) for Best Supporting Actress and Coco for Best Animated Feature.
- Best Picture is widely considered to be a toss-up between The Shape of Water and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
Here are MY PICKS (Melissa Sharpe's):
Best Picture: The Post
Best Director: Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape Of Water)
Best Actor: Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour)
Best Actress: Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Mo)
Best Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards )
Best Supporting Actress: Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird)