As usual, the 2016 Oscars award ceremony yesterday evening was ripe with shoutouts to causes, as well as some entertaining (and sometimes more serious) jokes on current social issues.
Here is a quick roundup of the biggest shoutouts and jokes of the evening relating to progressive issues:
First, Chris Rock delivered his Oscar monologue addressing the big controversy of the year – the Academy’s diversity problem: “Well, I’m here at the Academy Awards, otherwise known as the ‘White People’s Choice Awards.”
Rock went on to discuss the big question: “Is Hollywood racist?” with which he answered, “You’re damn right Hollywood’s racist. But just not the racist that you’ve become accustomed to.”
You can watch the full opening monologue here:
Then, screenwriter and director Adam McKay spoke out against money in politics during his acceptance speech for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Big Short:
Openly gay artist, Sam Smith, accepted the award for Best Original Song, and dedicated his award to the LGBT community:
Lady Gage performed her powerful song, nominated for Best Original Song, about the reality of sexual assault. During her performance she had a group of real sexual assault survivors come onto the stage. Lady Gaga herself is a victim of sexual assault. The song was written for the 2015 documentary The Hunting Ground.
And finally, Leonardo DiCaprio used his acceptance speech for Best Actor for his film The Revenant to speak out on climate change:
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