Amy Schumer
… on co-hosts Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall
“This year the Academy hired three women to host, because it’s cheaper than hiring one man.”
… on another ill-fated awards show
“You know what’s in the in memoriam section this year? The Golden Globes.”
… on the film The Power of the Dog
“I’ve watched that film three times and I’m halfway through it.”
… on the tepid critical response to Don’t Look Up
“I guess the Academy members don’t look up … reviews!”
… on Leonardo DiCaprio
“He’s done so much to fight climate change and leave behind a cleaner, greener planet for his girlfriends.”
… on the film King Richard
“After years of Hollywood ignoring women’s stories, this year we finally got a movie about the incredible Williams sisters’ dad.”
… on Aaron Sorkin’s Lucille Ball biopic Being the Ricardos
“The innovation to make a movie about Lucille Ball without even a moment that’s funny … you make a movie about the most iconic female comedian and not one laugh – brilliant! It’s like making a biopic of Michael Jordan and just showing the bus trips between games.”
Chris Rock
… after getting slapped by Will Smith
“Wow, Will Smith just smacked the shit out of me.”
Will Smith
… after slapping Chris Rock
“I want to apologise to the Academy and all my fellow nominees.”
“Art imitates life – I look like the crazy father just like they said about Richard Williams, but love will make you do crazy things.”
Amy Schumer (returning to stage after the incident)
“Did I miss anything?”
Wanda Sykes
“For you people in Florida, we’re gonna have a gay night! Gay, gay, gay!” (Florida has passed a bill which would prevent LGBTQ+ issues from being discussed in classrooms.)
Ariana DeBose
… on winning her first Oscar for the role of Anita in West Side Story
“Now you see why Anita says, ‘I want to be in America,’ because even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true, and that’s a really heartening thing right now.”
… to Rita Moreno, who won an Oscar for the same role in 1962
“I’m so grateful – your Anita paved the way for tons of Anitas like me.”
… on finding her way
“Imagine this little girl in the backseat of a white Ford Focus, look into her eyes and you see an openly queer woman of color, an Afro-Latina who found her strength in life through art. So to anybody who has ever questioned your identity – ever, ever ever – or you find yourself living in the grey spaces, I promise you this: there is indeed a place for us.”
Troy Kotsur
… on winning best supporting actor for Coda
“This is is dedicated to the deaf community, the Coda community, the disabled community. This is our moment.”
… on his father
“He was the best signer in our family. But he was in a car accident and he became paralyzed from the neck down and he was no longer able to sign. Dad, I learned so much from you. I’ll always love you. You are my hero.”
Megan Thee Stallion
… rapping in a remixed version of Encanto’s We Don’t Talk About Bruno
“Magic everywhere / Stars everywhere / I even see Oscars Zendaya over there / Oh no, we’ve got three hosts / These women are the best and they’re killin’ all the jokes / So many nominees, I’m a little nervous / I’m seein’ all the envelopes /They behind the curtain.”
Jessica Chastain
… on Tammy Faye Bakker’s legacy of LGBTQ+ support
“We’re faced with discriminatory and bigoted legislation that is sweeping our country with the only goal of further dividing us. There’s violence and hate crimes being perpetuated [sic] on innocent civilians all over the world. And in times like this, I think of Tammy and I’m inspired by her radical acts of love … I’m inspired by her compassion and I see it as a guiding principle that leads us forward. And it connects us all in the desire that we want to be accepted for who we are, accepted for who we love, and to live a life without the fear of violence or terror.
… to LGBTQ+ youth
“For any of you out there who do in fact feel hopeless or alone, I just want you to know that you are unconditionally loved for the uniqueness that is you.”
