Best actress winner Michelle Yeoh has appeared to take aim at CNN's Don Lemon in her Oscars speech after his 'sexist' comments.
The American TV journalist sparked uproar for saying Nikki Haley, 51, "isn’t in her prime", and the actress seemed to use her acceptance speech to make a dig at the remarks.
Yeoh, 60, who won the prestigious award for her leading role as Evelyn Quan Wang in Everything Everywhere All At Once, threw shade at Lemon saying no one can tell you "you are ever past your prime".
“For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities," she said.
“This is proof that dreams, dream big, and dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t ever let anyone tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up!”
Lemon's comments came after Haley announced her presidential campaign.
“This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable. I think it’s the wrong road to go down. She says people, you know, politicians or something are not in their prime,” Lemon said.
“Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime, sorry. A woman is considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”
Co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins were shocked at the comments, leaving Lemon removing himself from the next few shows.
In a statement he said he regretted his “inartful and irrelevant” comments, which many deemed “sexist” and “misogynistic”.
Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian to win best actress at the Oscars and was up against stiff competition from Cate Blanchett in Tár, Ana De Armas in Blonde, Andrea Riseborough in To Leslie and Michelle Williams in The Fabelmans.
Yeoh has already won a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role in the offbeat comedy drama.
Everything Everywhere All at Once was the big winner at this year's event as it took home seven awards including best picture.
