Conan O'Brien makes defiant dig at Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Oscars speech
Conan O'Brien has made a not so subtle joke at Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin during the 97th Academy Awards.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy was invited to President Trump's official residence on Friday (February 28), and their meeting quickly descended into chaos.
One of the key topics of debate was Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia, which first began in February 2022 when the Russians invaded Ukraine.
According to the BBC, 95,000 people fighting for Russia's military have now died as the war, while over 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed on the battlefield, says The Kyiv Independant.
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With the thousands of lives lost, heads of state from across the globe are keen to bring an end to the conflict — Trump included.
But the meeting on Friday quickly descended into chaos, as Trump warned Zelenskyy that he's 'gambling with World War 3'.
Raising his voice, Trump said: "You're in no position to dictate what we're going to feel. We're going to feel very good. We're going to feel very good and very strong. You're right now, not in a very good position, you've allowed yourself to be in a very bad position.
"You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards ... You're gambling with the lives of millions of people! You're gambling with World War Three! You're gambling with World War III. And what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country - this country."
As we've become accustomed to over the years, the Oscars is never shy to discuss politics.
And while discussing Anora's success at the Oscars so far, host O'Brien said: "Anora's doing great tonight. Two awards. I think Americans are finally ready for someone to stand up to a powerful Russian," which is of course a reference to the recent drama involving President Trump.
Following the televised meeting, Zelenskyy took to social media to speak out following his visit to Washington.
He wrote on Twitter: "Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that."
Trump issued a statement of his own, penning on his social media platform Truth Social: "We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.
"It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.
"I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace."
The most shocking Oscars moments ever
Angelina Jolie locks lips with her brother on the red carpet (2000)
A sweet shoutout from Jolie to her brother James Haven after winning Best Supporting Actress for Girl, Interrupted turned into something much more bizarre on the red carpet after the event.
Jolie said during her acceptance speech: "I’m in shock, and I’m so in love with my brother right now.
"He just held me and said he loved me, and I know he’s so happy for me. And, um, thank you for that."
So far so innocuous, but the pair then went on to lock lips on the red carpet after the ceremony in front of paparazzi.
Reflecting on the incident in 2007, James said: “I did not give Angie a French kiss. It was something simple and lovely. She was about to go off to Mexico to finish filming Original Sin with Antonio Banderas.
"I congratulated her on the Oscar win and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. It was snapped and became a big thing."
Adrien Brody surprises Halle Berry with a kiss after winning Best Actor (2003)
The last time Brody was up for Best Actor, he took Berry and everyone else by surprise when he passionately kissed her as she presented him with the award.
Berry said in 2017: “I was like, ‘What the f**k is happening right now?’ That is what was going through my mind.”
She was sympathetic for how the moment may have gone to Brody’s head, however, adding: “I was there the year before and I know the feeling of being out of your body, I just f**king went with it.”
On the campaign trail for The Brutalist this year, Bordy said of the moment in an interview with Variety: “We live in a very conscious time, which is a wonderful thing.
“And nothing that I ever do or have done or would’ve done is ever done with the intention of making anyone feel bad.”
John Travolta absolutely butchers Idina Menzel’s name (2014)
Most people would have no trouble pronouncing Frozen star Idina Menzel’s name, but John Travolta isn’t most people.
The Grease legend ended up calling her Adele Dazeem when welcoming to her onstage to perform. Quite how he arrived at that pronunciation is anyone’s guess.
Travolta later apologised, saying in a statement: “I've been beating myself up all day. Then I thought ... what would Idina Menzel say? She’d say, 'Let it go, let it go!'
“Idina is incredibly talented and I am so happy Frozen took home two Oscars Sunday night!"
The La La Land and Moonlight fiasco (2017)
Back in 2017, the most prestigious award of the night, Best Film, was about to be announced.
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced the gong had gone to La La Land, the Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone musical which was widely considered the favourite to win.
Two and half minutes later, when the La La Land team were midway through their acceptance speeches, a producer on the film Jordan Horowitz was shown another envelope that revealed they hadn’t won after all.
There’s a mistake," he said. "Moonlight, you guys won Best Picture. This is not a joke.”
It turned out Beatty had somehow been handed the envelope for Best Actress, which went to Emma Stone for La La Land earlier in the evening.
It turned into a mortifying experience for all involved. Moonlight director Barry Jenkins said afterwards: “I noticed the commotion but I was speechless when the result was altered. I've never seen that happen before.”
The slap heard around the world (2022)
Easily the most dramatic thing to ever happen at the Oscars, Smith strode on stage and walloped presenter Chris Rock, after he made an ill-advised joke about the Men in Black star’s wife Jada Pinkett-Smith.
Rock said on stage: “Jada, can't wait for G.I. Jane 2,” a reference to her shaved head. Jada has been open about her struggles with alopecia, which made this a low blow in many people’s eyes.
Cue Smith striding on stage and smacking Rock, later yelling at him: “Keep my wife's name out of your f**king mouth.”
The upside of all this was that Smith was banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years, although he did awkwardly go on to pick up the award for Best Actor later that evening.
Smith apologised for his behaviour several times in the months following, saying: “One of the things about that moment, I just didn’t realise, I wasn’t thinking, but how many people got hurt in that moment.”
Topics: Conan O'Brien, Oscars, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Politics
Callum Jones