Hey, that red carpet isn’t red!

There are some fundamental truths in the world: The sky is blue. The grass is green. The Oscars red carpet is re -- champagne-colored.

Jimmy Kimmel, this year's host, joked at the unveiling Thursday that the color change - the first time in more than six decades that the academy's arrival rug will not be red - had been prompted by Will Smith slapping the comedian Chris Rock across the face onstage at last year's ceremony.

"I think the decision to go with a champagne carpet rather than a red carpet shows just how confident we are that no blood will be shed," he said.

Oscars organizers said they wanted the rug to be mellow, like a beach at sunset.

The 50,000-square-foot rug, which was created in a color chosen by the academy, is the latest in a trend of colorful carpets sweeping premieres, galas and award ceremonies across the country, from the Emmys (gold...