RTE star Lottie Ryan has said she was not impressed with Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel’s dig at the Irish during the awards ceremony.
We had hoped for Oscar glory after a record breaking 14 nominations but it appears we ended up the butt of jokes about drinking, fighting and unintelligible accents.
On Sunday, Kimmel made reference to the fact that five Irish stars were nominated for an Academy Award, claiming the odds of another fight on stage "just went up".
Lottie told Jennifer Zamparelli on her 2FM show: “It just hasn’t gone down well. It’s not just Jimmy Kimmel that writes these scripts and jokes. There is a whole team that puts these things together.
“But he still went ahead, and people on social media aren’t very comfortable.
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“Ireland was kind of the butt of the joke, you know? There was reference to the fighting Irish. The joke went ‘Five Irish actors are nominated tonight, which means the odds of another fight on stage just went way up.’ Every comment I saw online was negative,” said Lottie.
But Jennifer saw the funny side: “Look, if an Irish person had said the joke, they would have got away with it.”
“He (Kimmel) is taking the Mickey out of the Irish because they got the most nominations and we were everywhere, flying the flag.
“I mean it’s playing into a stereotype and that’s a bit annoying but it made me chuckle. I wasn’t offended but I’m not Colin Farrell.”
“I don’t think we should be offended on behalf of other people who aren’t getting offended. Has Colin Farrell said he is really offended?”
Comedian Oliver Callan said he failed to see the humour in last weekend’s Saturday Night Live skit impersonating Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell.
The sketch was criticised for being “offensive” and “mean-spirited” in its portrayal of Irish stereotypes.
The 3.5 minute skit featured a fake Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell speaking in bizarre accents, followed by the fake presenter joking: “Wow, and they haven’t even started drinking yet.”
Stepping in for Ryan Tubridy on his RTE Radio 1 show on Monday morning, the Callan Kicks star hit back: “Wow! And Colin Farrell hasn’t had a drink for 20 years. And, you’ve done no research, Saturday Night Live!”
“It was just bizarre. Saturday Night Live wasn’t funny.”
The Irish impressionist said he watched the skit twice over the weekend. “I was going, what was the gag?’
“The gag was just that apparently, even when we’re speaking English, they can’t understand an Irish accent. Even when it’s two of the most articulate people – Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.”
One of the many reasons the joke fell flat is because Farrell gave up alcohol in 2006 and has spoken about the challenge of staying sober.
Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee was among those to criticise the sketch, tweeting "yes, this (is) fine" with a facepalming emoji.
Farrell has since responded to the sketch.
During a questions and answers segment with Oscars host Kimmel, Farrell was read a question from a viewer who asked the Irish man what he was saying in the movie.
Kimmel said that someone wrote in to say that they had adored Farrell’s performance in the film but was unable to understand what he said in it.
In response to the question, which was read out by Kimmel, Farrell said: "I’d like him to go on YouTube and check out the SNL skit from last night and he’ll have a good idea.”
But it was Colin’s appearance on the champagne carpet with his 13-year-old son Henry who won over hearts at the show.
Henry is the second son of Farrell, who he shares with Henry's mother Alicja Bachleda-Curus, his co-star in the 2009 film Ondine.
In an interview with ExtraTV, teenager Henry said that Colin is a "really nice dad."
The Banshees of Inisherin star admitted that he and Henry spent Friday night eating cheeseburgers and watching The Whale starring Brendan Fraser, as the rest of Hollywood tangoed at a number of pre-Oscar parties.
"We had the best time," he added, while all smiles with his son.
But despite the drama, on Sunday night, a host of Irish stars walked the champagne carpet as Ireland were out to celebrate a record breaking 14 nominations at the Oscars.
But it was the stars of Everything Everywhere All At Once that dominated this year’s Oscars, winning seven awards including best picture in a major night for Asian and Asian American representation.
Michelle Yeoh has become only the second woman of colour to win the best actress Oscar following in the footsteps of Halle Berry back in 2002.
“For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight this is a beacon of hope and possibility,” she said, before adding: “Ladies don’t ever let anyone tell you you are past your prime.”
Ke Huy Quan was named best supporting actor for his role in the film, beating Dubliner Barry Keoghan and Judd Hirsch. He has become the first Vietnam-born actor to win an Oscar. “Mom, I just won an Oscar!” he said tearfully. “They say stories like this only happen in the movies. I cannot believe this is happening to me.”
Paul Mescal missed out on the Best Actor nod to Brendan Fraser, while The Banshees of Inisherin won no awards despite nine nominations.
But Dubliner Richard Baneham won his second Oscar for best visual effects as part of the team behind Avatar: The Way of Water.
And the Northern Ireland film An Irish Goodbye won best live-action short film, which led to one of the 95th Academy Awards’ most moving moments: the audience joined the film’s makers in singing happy birthday to its star, James Martin, who had turned 31.
President Michael D Higgins hailed the Irish success after a remarkable awards season.
President Higgins said: "May I congratulate An Irish Goodbye and Richard Baneham for their fantastic achievements in winning the Best Live-Action Short Film and Best Visual Effects Awards respectively at last night’s Oscars ceremony.
"May I further extend my congratulations to Colin Farrell, Paul Mescal, Kerry Condon, Brendan Gleeson, Barry Keoghan, Jonathan Redmond and all involved with An Cailin Ciuin and The Banshees Of Inisherin for the exceptional recognition of their work which being nominated for an Academy Award constitutes.
"This has been a remarkable year for the Irish film industry and is a testament to the hard work of so many people over recent decades.
"It is particularly welcome to see the recognition which the Irish film industry is receiving on what is the 30th anniversary of the reestablishment of Bord Scannan na hEireann/the Irish Film Board, now Screen Ireland, in 1993.
"The success which we are seeing is built on the acquisition of skills and pursuit of excellence by all in the Irish film community.
"As a gesture to all that has been achieved, and the important contribution of the film and related industries to Irish life, Sabina and myself look forward to hosting a St Patrick’s Day reception celebrating the Irish Film, Audio-Visual and Performing Arts Communities at Aras an Uachtarain this Friday."
Minister for Arts Catherine Martin also congratulated the two Irish Oscar winners.
Ms Martin said it was a "historic night" for Ireland and testament to the wealth of talent that now exists in the Irish industry.
"This evening’s ceremony has been a momentous occasion on so many levels; for the nominees who have received richly deserved plaudits for their creative endeavours; for the Irish film industry which is riding the crest of a wave; and for all of us in Ireland who are so proud of your achievements.
"The Oscars ceremony showcased our talent, our language, and the beauty of our country as a tourism destination to a global audience, and with the pipeline of exciting projects in production at the moment, there is no reason why we can’t be competing every year at the highest level, such is the creative talent within the country at the moment."
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