Politics At The Oscars: Peaceful Causes And Partisan Statements Get Overshadowed By A Punch
deadline.comThe 2022 Oscars recognized the war in Ukraine with a moment of silence, calls for donations and ribbons to remind of the crisis of refugees. “It’s impossible not to be moved by their resilience,” said Mila Kunis.But any references to geopolitical causes or pleas for humanity were overshadowed by the blow that Will Smith landed on Chris Rock.
It used to be that partisan statements triggered a bit of discord and division in the room; this time it was one of Rock’s crass jokes about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.That said, there were moments, starting with Wanda Sykes’ reference, in the opener, to Mitch McConnell, followed by a dig at Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which has caused a bit of contentiousness at The Walt Disney Co.“For you people in Florida, we are going to have a gay night,” Sykes said. “Gay.
Gay. Gay.”Sykes later took aim at the wave of new voting restrictions when she presented a shredded piece of paper. “You like democracy?
Here is a voter registration form for the state of Texas,” she said.Later, Jessica Chastain, winning the best actress Oscar for The Eyes of Tammy Faye, also referred the Florida bill. “We’re faced with bigoted legislation that is sweeping our country with the only goal of further dividing us.
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