The Academy Awards have long been a platform for political moments—offering a high-profile opportunity to advocate for peace during conflict or spotlight key issues. At the Oscars 2022, the ongoing war in Ukraine was top of mind for several attendees, who acknowledged Russia’s invasion and sent support to Ukrainians on the front lines. 

While on the red carpet, Dune’s Jason Momoa wore a blue and yellow scarf tucked into his suit, which appeared to be a tribute to the colors of Ukraine’s flag. Parallel Mothers director Pedro Almodóvar walked the carpet with a blue ribbon that read, “#WithRefugees,” on his lapel. Best-original-song nominee Diane Warren could also be seen wearing this ribbon, as well as Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung, and honorary Oscar winner Tyler Perry.

Presenter Jamie Lee Curtis honored the country with her ensemble by wearing a blue ribbon tied around her finger. “It’s an incredibly important moment, given what’s happening in Ukraine, the displacement of human beings in the world, the exodus of human beings,” Curtis told the Associated Press. She also called the conflict “a crucial story for our time right now” and pointed to Oscar-nominated films including Flee and Encanto as exploring themes of human displacement. 

During his acceptance speech for best documentary short, The Queen of Basketball filmmaker Ben Proudfoot addressed the conflict head on, imploring President Biden to “bring Brittney Griner home.” Griner is a professional women’s basketball player who was detained at a Moscow-area airport for allegedly carrying vape cartridges containing hashish oil, and is currently being held in Russia. Later in the telecast, director Francis Ford Coppola said,“Viva Ukraine,” after a tribute for The Godfather’s 50th anniversary.

Following Reba McEntire’s emotional performance of Diane Warren’s “Somehow You Do” from Four Good Days, a title card voicing the Academy’s support for Ukraine appeared. It read, “While film is an important avenue for us to express our humanity in times of conflict, the reality is millions of families in Ukraine need food, medical care, clean water, and emergency services. Resources are scarce, and we—collectively as a global community—can do more. We ask you to support Ukraine in any way you are able. #StandWithUkraine.”

At one point, cohost Amy Schumer referenced the ongoing conflict. “There's a genocide going on in the Ukraine and women are losing all their rights and trans people...and now please welcome Anthony Hopkins,” Schumer said before welcoming the best actor winner onstage to present best actress. In the Oscars lead-up, she expressed the desire to invite Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, to be featured on the telecast. 

During a press conference prior to Sunday’s Oscars, producer Will Packer would not confirm Zelenskyy’s involvement. “The show is still in process so that’s not something we would say definitely one way or another right now,” he said. Sykes shared that the show would include an “organic and thoughtful” mention of the ongoing Ukraine crisis—an event that would be handled with care, cohost Regina Hall agreed. “It’s a delicate situation and [the producers] have handled it so thoughtfully and I think the audience will enjoy it,” she said. 

Prior to the telecast, Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn told CNN’s Jim Acosta that he would “smelt [his awards] in public,” if Ukrainian president Zelenskyy did not speak during the Academy Awards. (Penn has two trophies from the Academy—winning best actor for Mystic River in 2004 and Milk in 2009.) The actor said that “there is nothing greater that the Academy Awards could do than to give [Zelenskyy] an opportunity to talk to all of us.” An omission to do so would be “the most obscene moment in Hollywood history,” he added. 

Throughout awards season, the terror in Ukraine has been denounced with callouts at the SAG Awards, impassioned remarks by Maria Bakalova at the Critics Choice Awards, and a call for solidarity by Kristen Stewart at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. 

This post will be updated.

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