On Tuesday, we told you about the Avatar-themed Ben Stiller–Sacha Baron Cohen skit that was cut from Sunday’s Oscars to spare James Cameron’s feelings. But now the HMFIC swears to E!’s Christina Gibson that he’d have been okay with it: “I don’t know anything about that … I don’t produce the Oscars. If they want to poke fun at Avatar Sunday, that’s okay by me.†And furthermore: “The Oscars are a celebration of movies,†says Cameron. “Even the gaffes and out-of-bounds stuff are all part of the fun.†Meanwhile, telecast producer Bill Mechanic tells the Wrap’s Steve Pond that he did cut the skit, but not because he was worried it might offend Cameron: “It was a little too MTV for everyone.†So there’d probably still be no hope for the skit appearing Sunday, even if Stiller and Baron Cohen hadn’t both been missing since Tuesday.
James Cameron to Oscars: Go Ahead and Make Fun of Me [E!]
Baron Cohen Oscar Skit Pulled on Merits — Not for Cameron [Wrap]