Banksy Request to Appear at the Oscars in Disguise Rejected

LONDON -- Banksy, mysterious street artist and art man of the moment, has told the British press his request to turn up at this week's Oscars in disguise in a bid to keep his identity a secret, has been declined.

He told Metro that Academy award chiefs said no amid fears that such a move would invite copycat gatecrashers.

The artist, famous for his stencils daubed on street walls, is up for a best documentary award for his debut feature film, Exit Through The Gift Shop.

Academy executive director Bruce Davis told Entertainment Week: "The fun but disquieting scenario is that if the film wins and five guys in monkey masks come to the stage all saying, "I'm Banksy," who the hell do we give it [award] to?"

After the nominations were announced, Banksy called his Oscar nom a "big surprise."

He said in a statement: "This is a big surprise. I don't agree with the concept of award ceremonies, but I'm prepared to make an exception for the ones I'm nominated for. The last time there was a naked man covered in gold paint in my house, it was me."

A few new works reportedly by Banksy have sprung up around Los Angeles recently including a stencil of children's character Charlie Brown smoking and pouring a can of petrol.