Talking points from the 89th Academy Awards

Jimmy Kimmel Trump protest As he opened the 89th Academy Awards, host Jimmy Kimmel thanked President Donald Trump for making the Oscars appear less racist. Opening the show, he said the ceremony was being watched around the world by “countries that now hate us". “The country is divided right now, I’ve been getting advice that I need to say something to unite us. Let me say something. I can’t do that. There is only one Braveheart in this room and he’s not going to do that either,” he said in a dig at Mel Gibson. “I want to say thank you to President Trump. Remember last year when it seemed like the Oscars were racist? It’s gone!” he quipped. More diverse Oscars Last year, the near-monopoly of white actors among the nominations for the Oscars prompted something of an outcry in Hollywood. However, this time around a record six black actors were nominated. Two black actors won Oscars, with Moonlight winning the best picture, which centres around black characters. Mahershala Ali became the first Muslim to win an Oscar for his supporting role in Moonlight and Viola Davis triumphed in the best supporting actress category. The Salesman Trump protest Asghar Farhadi’s The Salesman won the best foreign language film Oscar. Farhadi boycotted the ceremony because of Trump’s travel ban. Iranian astronaut Anousheh Ansari accepted the award on behalf of the director. She read the following statement from Farhadi: “I’m sorry I’m not with you tonight. My absence is out of respect for the people of my country and those of other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the US.” Suicide Squad is an Oscar winner now Not many have predicted that Suicide Squad, the much-criticised superhero, would pick up an award at the Oscars. But it did. Though, the prize didn’t have anything to do with the actual plot-line or acting. Instead, it won the best make-up and hair styling award. Red carpet protests A bunch of Oscar-nominees showed their support behind the organisation who first challenged President Donald Trump’s travel ban by wearing blue ribbons to the ceremony. The blue bow represents the American Civil Liberties Union and is part of their new initiative titled Stand With ACLU. Irish-Ethiopian star Ruth Negga, who was nominated for best actress for her role in Loving, was first spotted on the red carpet wearing the blue ribbons. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Hamilton creator and the nominee for writing music and lyrics for “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana, and his mother, both wore the blue ribbon. Barry Jenkins, director of best film winner Moonlight, was also spotted with the blue bow pinned to his suit.  Standing ovation to Meryl Last month, Meryl Streep’s Golden Globes speech provoked the vexation of Donald Trump, who announced in a tweet that the three times Oscars winning and 20 times nominated actress was “overrated”. And now, during the Oscars ceremony, Hollywood came out in support of the actress as host Kimmel drew reference to her very public spat with the US president. Mention of Streep in Kimmel’s opening comments drew a spontaneous – and lengthy – round of applause for the Florence Foster Jenkins nominee, which prompted the host to encourage a standing ovation.