Here is our 2022 Oscar Open Post! Our open post host this evening is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, one of Ukraine’s most beloved actors and celebrities, and now a respected wartime president fighting a full-scale Russian invasion. Zelensky has gotten shout-outs and well-wishes during awards-show speeches for more than a month now, and the actor community sincerely believes that Zelensky is one of their own. Which is why there are strong rumors that President Zelensky will make some kind of satellite appearance at the Oscars.
Amy Schumer (one of the Oscar hosts) mentioned that producers were trying to get Zelensky to make a live-via-satellite appearance but she wasn’t sure if it would happen. ABC isn’t confirming anything as of this moment, because (I would assume) if it happens, they want it to be a surprise. Mila Kunis is also expected to speak at the Oscars about what’s happening in Ukraine.
Because Sean Penn can’t help himself, he also decided to enter the Zelensky-at-the-Oscars conversation. Penn did an interview on CNN where he threatened to boycott the Oscars if producers didn’t invite Zelensky to speak. Dude! Clearly, the problems involved with the Zelensky appearance (if it happens) are ones of logistics, availability and secrecy? No one, at this point, has any issue standing with Ukraine. Business, tech and Hollywood have all pulled out of Russia. Everyone is on Team Ukraine. Slava Ukraini! Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the heroes.
CB, Hecate and I will be live-tweeting the Oscars and updating this post with some of the big winners. There should be some surprise winners, that’s my prediction. You can follow CB here @celebitchy. You can follow Hecate here @HecateatCB and you can follow me here @KaiseratCB.
Update by CB: Ariana DeBose has won Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Anita in West Side Story. She ended her speech by saying “You see an openly queer woman of color who found her strength through art. That’s what we’re here to celebrate. To anybody who has ever questioned your identity, I promise you this, there is a place for us.” Congratulations to Ariana!
Photos courtesy of Zelensky’s Instagram.
