Going into this year's Oscars, host Chris Rock [1] had his work cut out for him. It's 2016 — in case you forgot — and the shocking lack of diversity in the list of nominees [2] was thus potently highlighted like never before. The backlash was fierce — many celebrities, like Jada Pinkett Smith [3] and Will Smith [4], called for a boycott. Even more stars weighed in with their thoughts on the issue [5]. On Sunday, the Oscars took over LA, so how did the ceremony call attention to this overt whiteness? We've rounded up everything from Chris Rock's bits to quotes from the press room, so read on to see how the whole ordeal made its way into the spotlight.
A Truly Biting Opening Monologue
Right out the gate, Chris Rock [6] really set his crosshairs on The Academy with a brutally honest opening monologue [7]. We don't have time to go over all the amazing jokes [8], only because there are so many.
A Diverse Selection of Presenters
Some of the presenters from the Oscars [9] came from last year's list of winners, but not all of them. This year's list [10] included the likes of Kerry Washington [11], Quincy Jones, Priyanka Chopra, and plenty more.
Mark Rylance's Press Room Comment
After taking the award for best supporting actor, Mark Rylance was asked to comment on the #OscarsSoWhite controversy. Here's what he said:
I think African‑American actors are in a stronger position now, thanks a lot to what Chris Rock has done tonight and what the activists who have been raising the issue around this awards ceremony have said . . . So I hope that this awareness that's been raised very humorously by Chris tonight and angrily by other people, understandably, I hope that's going to create a lot more diversity. It's of course not just for the performers; it's a matter of audiences taking this on, it's a matter of audiences not just going out for the thrill or the safe bet, but taking a bet on more unusual films and more unusual plays that tell stories about issues or people who are in the minority in society. Wouldn't you think? Yeah. So I hope this will do a little bit more to change the story and diversify the stories that we listen to and watch.
Alicia Vikander, on Getting More Diverse Stories Out There
Although The Danish Girl doesn't handle the topic of race, it handles the issues of another minority community: people who identify as transgender. When asked about whether this could open the door for more diverse stories in Hollywood, Alicia Vikander addressed the social climate as a whole:
I definitely hope so. I came on this film only two years ago. And I know that this was not an easy film to get made and it's been almost 15 years that one of our producers, Gail [Mutrux], had worked on it. To see such a cultural change with me over the years since I actually finished the film . . . with Caitlyn Jenner coming out, and with Transparent and Tangerine. It's a social change, and I just wish that, in the same way this film's been so educational for me, and with so many people that I've gotten to meet in preparation for it, I hope that it can open up an even wider conversation with the public."
Adam McKay and Charles Randolph
Adam McKay and Charles Randolph took home an award for their writing on The Big Short. Since their win was so early on in the show, they were asked to comment on Chris Rock's epic opening monologue. Here's what they said [16]:
I thought it was great; I thought it was really great. I thought it was jabbing at Hollywood but at the same time even-handed and kind of dealing with a new era of how we discuss diversity. Very impressive and really funny.
Sam Smith's Press Room Comment About Chris Rock
Sam Smith was another winner who commented on Chris Rock's hosting job in the press room. Here's what he had to say:
I thought it amazing. I thought it was amazing. And it was so prominent throughout the show, and I thought that was important. It's important that all of these things get raised because we are not okay, you know. There is so much that needs to be changed in the world, and it's so amazing that people are speaking about it and fighting against it.