As expected, the Oscars got political this year. Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the Oscars red carpet and awards show covered the #MeToo and Time’s Up movement, President Donald Trump’s presidency and more. We take a look at all the comments during the 90th Academy Awards.
#MeToo
Kimmel made plenty of jokes and comments during his monologue about sexual harassment and misconduct in Hollywood, including this one about women starring in superhero movies.
Jimmy Kimmel: “I remember a time when the major studios didn’t believe a woman or a minority could open a super hero movie—and the reason I remember that time is because it was March of last year.” #Oscar2018 (via ABC) pic.twitter.com/ZhvBMco0Zc
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 5, 2018
.@jimmykimmel: “Here’s how clueless Hollywood is about women: We made a movie called ‘What Women Want,’ and it starred Mel Gibson.” #Oscars https://t.co/gGUxhy6d5o pic.twitter.com/m2wU2XynJf
— Variety (@Variety) March 5, 2018
.@jimmykimmel kicks off the #Oscars monologue: ‘This year when you hear your name called, don’t get up right away’ https://t.co/gGUxhy6d5o pic.twitter.com/Hfu6QjsXGE
— Variety (@Variety) March 5, 2018
Actresses did not shy away from discussing the #MeToo movement, the movement that started in Hollywood after sexual misconduct allegations came out against to demonstrate the widespread prevalence of sexual assault and harassment, especially in the workplace, both on the red carpet and on stage.
VIDEO: Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, speaking about keeping momentum going after the #Oscars. For more Academy Awards coverage, click here: https://t.co/x5irj7M1nz pic.twitter.com/aFMWdkTkWE
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) March 4, 2018
Ashley Judd on the #TimesUp movement: “Finally the world is able to hear because I believe that we women…our voices have been squelched.” https://t.co/6YJWYVSrEb #Oscars pic.twitter.com/DosjXaL7YA
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 5, 2018
“ I think more women are being believed. I think more men are nervous. I think things will really be different now, don’t you? It feels like change is in the air.” Hollywood legend Eva Marie Saint re #MeToo #Oscars. “Just talking to you, I miss New York.” pic.twitter.com/J8KKHCEbFv
— Cara Buckley (@caraNYT) March 4, 2018
Casey Affleck, who was supposed to present the Best Actress award, backed out because of sexual misconduct allegations that have arisen against him.
Jennifer Lawrence and Jodie Foster replace Casey Affleck at the #Oscars amidst #MeToo backlash https://t.co/9DVCLcXhZp
— The Independent (@Independent) March 5, 2018
Three Harvey Weinstein accusers presented on stage together.
Three Harvey Weinstein accusers – Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek and Annabella Sciorra – are presenting onstage. #Oscars #TimesUp https://t.co/Zho3ekbgyT pic.twitter.com/zANtXOXT6q
— USA TODAY Life (@usatodaylife) March 5, 2018
@AshleyJudd, Annabella Sciorra & Salma Hayek look ahead at 90th Oscars “to make sure the next 90 years empower limitless possibilities of equality, diversity, inclusion, intersectionality …” #Oscars #TimesUp pic.twitter.com/ltyib7iSLd
— Sharon Eberson (@SEberson_pg) March 5, 2018
Ashley Judd, Annabella Sciorra and Salma Hayek praise the #MeToo, #TimesUp movements: “The changes we are witnessing are being driven by the powerful sound of new voices, of different voices, of our voices.” https://t.co/wst3Hx4GJF #Oscars pic.twitter.com/dBqhimu402
— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2018
When Coco songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez won Best Original Song For Remember Me, Anderson-Lopez talked about how the category was 50-50 for gender representation.
Kristen Anderson-Lopez: “Look at this category…Not only are we diverse, but we are close to 50/50 for gender representation. When you look at a category like ours, it helps us imagine a world where all the categories look like this one.” https://t.co/lJd891ISOk #Oscars pic.twitter.com/Ero8DUvqI1
— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2018
While presenting the award for Best Director, Emma Stone said “these four men, and Greta Gerwig,” calling out the fact that Gerwig is a rare female director but also that she is the first woman to earn an Oscar nod for her directorial debut.
‘These four men’ #Oscars pic.twitter.com/NnZcCzL1yl
— Mashable (@mashable) March 5, 2018
Only 11% percent of movies are directed by women. https://t.co/8ueJX5JTqL #Oscars pic.twitter.com/Wwdwf7nhKx
— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2018
Frances McDormand won Best Actress for her role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. During her speech, she had all the female nominees in every category stand up and praised them.
Frances McDormand has all the female nominees in every category stand up. “Look around, everybody…because we all have stories to tell and projects we need financed.” https://t.co/lJd891ISOk #Oscars pic.twitter.com/rNfg08xQJP
— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2018
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest appeared on the red carpet, despite recent sexual misconduct allegations against him, levied by his former stylist. Publicists had said before the Oscars that they would have their stars avoid Seacrest on the red carpet, though some stars did speak to him.
Ryan Seacrest is about the fourth spot on the carpet. His team was not pleased when I took a photo of him. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/6s9HC8GGT1
— Amy Kaufman (@AmyKinLA) March 4, 2018
Seacrest interviewed Taraji P. Henson, and whether she was simply speaking truth or actually directing the comment to Seacrest, she made waves on the Internet with her comments.
Taraji P. Henson appeared to throw shade at Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet https://t.co/Tsr1QYUaEm pic.twitter.com/Mp0QKZAptF
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) March 5, 2018
According to The Hollywood Reporter, E! put the interviews on a delay in anticipation of any mean comments.
E! is putting tonight’s red carpet on tape delay so that if anyone says anything mean—or, you know, true—about Ryan Seacrest the viewers won’t see it. https://t.co/W7Hdj4fsAE
— Angus Johnston (@studentactivism) March 4, 2018
Gun Control
Common called out the NRA during his performance. According to ABC News, “Stand Up for Something,” which is in the movie “Marshall” and was written by Diane Warren and Common, has been adopted by several gun violence prevention organizations. Last month, it was played in a Florida town hall for the grieving students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Some stars wore orange pins to show their support for the movement.
Many thanks to #Oscars presenter, @Lin_Manuel, for wearing orange in honor of the 96 Americans killed every day by gun violence and the hundreds more who are wounded.
Get involved in the movement to #EndGunViolence: Text ACT to 644-33. pic.twitter.com/Yj1ZSdeCQA
— Everytown (@Everytown) March 5, 2018
Donald Trump’s Administration
Kimmel did not hold back from mocking President Donald Trump and his administration. During his monologue, he referenced Call Me By Your Name, a coming-of-age drama film about a summer love affair between two young men.
Jimmy Kimmel: “We don’t make films like ‘Call Me By Your Name’ for money. We make them to upset Mike Pence.” #Oscars2018 (via ABC) pic.twitter.com/vdoB5yHVZp
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 5, 2018
He also called out White House Communications Director Hope Hicks quitting this week. Hicks was known as one of Trump’s closest confidants.
Jimmy Kimmel: “There’s also hope. Except at the White House. Hope quit on Wednesday.” #Oscars2018 (via ABC) pic.twitter.com/BXhXpSpAoa
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 5, 2018
#OscarsSoWhite
#OscarsSoWhite was a movement started to draw attention to the whitewashing within Hollywood. At this year’s Oscars, there were more people of color nominated for awards, and race was discussed frequently. Mary J. Blige was not only nominated for an original song award, for her song in Mudblood, but also for her role in the movie. This is the first time that a star has been up for a performance award and an original song award for the same movie in the same year. She performed the song, Mighty River, and it was very well received.
Mary J. Blige just lifted the entire roof with the #Oscar nominated “Mighty River”. Talk about multi-talented, what a performance! ? #Oscars90 pic.twitter.com/Heq2GO9wHZ
— Cinemark Theatres (@Cinemark) March 5, 2018
That performance by @maryjblige was EVERYTHING!!! Mighty River has a message and it was truly spectacular
— ThereseAnne (@_hellotherese) March 5, 2018
Jordan Peele became the first black screenwriter to win best original screenplay.
Jordan Peele: “Everybody who went and saw [‘Get Out’]…I love you. For shouting out at the theatre, for shouting out at the screen.” https://t.co/1AZFlQsW8g #Oscars pic.twitter.com/K45OTA0Ljm
— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2018
.@JordanPeele is only the third person in 90 years to be nominated for directing, writing and producing his first film. https://t.co/8ueJX5JTqL #Oscars pic.twitter.com/uGgeK72vhi
— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2018
Jordan Peele just made #Oscars history as the first black person to ever win Best Original Screenplay. pic.twitter.com/EiCLhjBlue
— Complex (@Complex) March 5, 2018
Dee Reese was the first black woman to be nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for Mudbound.
Dee Rees is the first black woman to ever be nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the #Oscars for @mudboundmovie. https://t.co/8ueJX5JTqL #Oscars pic.twitter.com/NpW7E9XTjD
— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2018
Tiffany Haddish and Maya Rudolph, who were some of the funniest presenters of the evening, told the crowd not to worry, there were still plenty of white people coming on stage soon.
Tiffany Haddish, Maya Rudolph Promise The Oscars Aren’t Getting ‘Too Black’ https://t.co/s72YmAM5ZU
— Chahta Summer (@ChahtaSmmr) March 5, 2018
Female Empowerment
Female friendship and empowerment was in full force tonight, with many women presenting together or talking each other up while on stage. Laura Dern and Greta Gerwig presented together while holding hands and emphasized the important of accuracy and facts in our world today.
#LauraDern and #GretaGerwig presenting together and holding hands and lifting each other up and just being supportive and classy and everything has got us all like…. #oscars #AcademyAwards #Oscars2018 pic.twitter.com/G74sG7G8oa
— PersistentandNasty (@PersistentNasty) March 5, 2018
Greta Gerwig and Laura Dern are out presenting for Best Feature Documentary. They emphasize the importance of accuracy and facts in the world we live in today. “Icarus” wins the award. #Oscars
— The DePaulia (@TheDePaulia) March 5, 2018
Meanwhile, Daniela Vega was the first openly transgender person to present at the Oscars.
Daniela Vega just became the 1st openly transgender presenter at the #Oscars. https://t.co/SVxm56WPF0
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 5, 2018
#HereWeAre
Using a poem by Denice Frohman, Twitter released a commercial during the Oscars, saying they stand with women around the world.
We stand with women around the world to make their voices heard and their presence known. To bring them front and center, today and every day. Join us as we say #HereWeAre pic.twitter.com/cN2Ik6bZU8
— Twitter (@Twitter) March 4, 2018
Okay, that #HereWeAre ad just gave me more feels than any of the #Oscars moments so far. I have goosebumps, and it’s because of a major corporation’s ad pitch. If this is wrong, I don’t want to be right. (P.S. WHO WAS THAT?)
— ❄️WintryMinx? (@UUYogini) March 5, 2018
The #HereWeAre commercial at the #Oscars2018 was extremely powerful. I want to learn more! @TheAcademy #Oscars90 #MeToo
— Barbara Platts (@BarbaraPlatts) March 5, 2018
Immigration
Lupita Nyong’o and Kumail Nanjiani presented the award for production design. Before they gave the award, they both spoke about being immigrants, and how they stood by the Dreamers.
Lupita Nyong’o and Kumail Nanjiani deliver powerful message to fellow immigrants: “Dreams are the foundation of Hollywood and dreams are the foundation of America. To all the dreamers out there, we stand with you.” https://t.co/3ViuTikzse #Oscars pic.twitter.com/IfSsg3cpFb
— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2018
Actor Eugenio Derbez, while presenting the song from Coco, makes a comment about how there are no walls in the afterworld.
Eugenio Derbez introduces song from “Coco” that “pulls a 12-year-old Mexican boy from the land of the living across the border to the land of the dead…in the afterworld there are no walls.” https://t.co/lJd891ISOk #Oscars pic.twitter.com/tmBqGf8yCh
— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2018
#OscarsSoWhite they totally missed Eugenio Derbez’s joke about the walls #Oscars
— Al V (@ChiRanter) March 5, 2018
Coco won Best Animated Feature Film, and the stars discussed how representation matters, and how they hope Coco provides a way for all kids to see someone who looks like them on screen.
“Marginalized people deserve to feel like they belong. Representation matters.” HELL YES, #COCO!!! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/rjcFPKFidx
— Shannon Nicole (@BarnetBlondie92) March 5, 2018
REPRESENTATION MATTERS #Coco #Oscars
— Victoria ❄️☔️??? (@vomsy) March 5, 2018
“With ‘Coco,’ we tried to take a step forward toward a world where all children can grow up seeing characters in movies that look and talk and live like they do. Marginalized people deserve to feel like they belong. Representation matters.” https://t.co/lJd891ISOk #Oscars pic.twitter.com/ZuwXo96fnY
— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2018
Guillermo del Toro won Best Director, and brought up that he is an immigrant.
Guillermo del Toro: “I am an immigrant…The greatest thing our art does and our industry does is to erase the lines in the sand. We should continue doing that when the world tells us to make them deeper.” https://t.co/lJd891ISOk #Oscars pic.twitter.com/PoOitsZvGu
— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2018
Activism
Common and Andra Day performed their Oscar-nominated song Stand Up for Something (from Marshall) and invited activists to share the stage. They included: Alice Brown Otter (Standing Rock Youth Council); Bana Alabed (author and Syrian refugee); Bryan Stevenson (Equal Justice Initiative); Cecile Richards (Planned Parenthood Action Fund); Dolores Huerta (Dolores Huerta Foundation, United Farm Workers of America); Janet Mock (#GirlsLikeUs), José Andrés (ThinkFoodGroup); Nicole Hockley (Sandy Hook Promise); Patrisse Cullors (Black Lives Matter); and Tarana Burke (Me Too).
Still pinching myself! It was an honor to share the #Oscars stage with @common and @AndraDayMusic, not to mention real-life heroes @JanetMock @TaranaBurke @DoloresHuerta @ChefJoseAndres @eji_org @AlAbedBana @osopepatrisse @NicoleHockley & Alice Brown Otter. #StandUpForSomething
— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) March 5, 2018
Tonight and always, proud to stand up for a future where every woman—no matter her race, income, geography, sexual orientation, disability, or immigration status—can access affordable health care, including reproductive health care, without judgment, shame, or stigma. #Oscars
— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) March 5, 2018
Like the song says, “It all means nothing if you don’t stand up for something.” What will you stand up for? #Oscars
— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) March 5, 2018
Watching the #Oscars and listening to @common & @AndraDayMusic give a singing shout out to activists who #StandUp, while painting my sign for #MarchForOurLives! #Synchronicity #MarchTheTalk #SiSePuede #ENOUGH #NeverAgain #GunControlNow #BeTheChange pic.twitter.com/mWLXdrfArf
— JD (@chingonaxicana3) March 5, 2018
Overarching message tonight at the #Oscars : There is so much power in our unity, and change is present and real. Just the beginning!
— heatherchurch (@heatherchurch) March 5, 2018
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