Academy Awards Don't Want Banksy Monkeying Around

Reclusive street artist Banksy may have to reveal his identity if he wants to appear at the Academy Awards this year. The graffiti artist, who is known for keeping his identity a secret, sometimes appearing in public wearing a cartoonish monkey mask, earned a nomination for his directorial skills in his spellbinding documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop.

It is the mask that is a cause for concern for those in the Oscar’s camp. “The fun but disquieting scenario,” said the Academy’s executive director, Bruce Davis, on Monday, “is if that film wins and five guys in monkey masks come to the stage all saying, ’I’m Banksy!’ Who the hell do we give it to?”

As a solution, Jaimie D’Cruz, Exit Through the Gift Shop‘s producer, who is also nominated for an award, will accept Banksy’s Oscar if he is to win. Although, if Banksy decides to show his face, the Academy says he is more than welcome to accept his own award.

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