2022 Oscars Awards

Will Smith apologizes to the Academy and his fellow nominees during best actor speech

From CNN’s Lisa Respers France

Will Smith accepts the award for best actor in a leading role for "King Richard" onstage during the 94th Academy Awards on March 27. 

Will Smith accepts the award for best actor in a leading role for “King Richard” onstage during the 94th Academy Awards on March 27.  (ABC)

Will Smith won his first Academy Award on Sunday night and, during his acceptance speech, offered his apologies to the Academy and others for an earlier incident in which the actor appeared to strike presenter Chris Rock.

He tearfully accepted the award for his role as Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams, in the film “King Richard.” Smith said Williams “was a fierce defender of his family.”

Smith said, “I know to do what we do, you gotta be able to take abuse and have people talk people about you. In this business, you gotta have people disrespecting you. And you gotta smile and pretend that’s ok.”

Smith also talked about being a “protector” and thanked the tennis legends and their family.

Smith shared that prior to his win, fellow nominee Denzel Washington shared some wisdom with him: “At your highest moment be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you.”

Smith ended saying that he hopes the Academy welcomes him back.

 

13 hr 9 min ago

Jane Campion wins best director

From CNN’s Sandra Gonzalez

Jane Campion accepts the directing award for "The Power of the Dog" onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards.

Jane Campion accepts the directing award for “The Power of the Dog” onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

“The Power of the Dog’ director Jane Campion is an Oscar winner.

Campion on Sunday won the award for best director, becoming the third woman to win the prize.

The first was Kathryn Bigelow, who won for “Hurt Locker” and “Nomadland” director Chloé Zhao won last year.

Last month, Campion made history when she became the first woman to ever be nominated twice in the category.

Her first nomination was for the 1993 film “The Piano.” That same year, she won an Oscar for best screenplay for the same movie.

When Campion earned her first nomination, she was only the second woman ever nominated in the category. The first was Lina Wertmüller, nominated for 1976′s “Seven Beauties.”

In recent years, women have been better represented in the category. Two women — Emerald Fennell (“Promising Young Woman”) and eventual winner Zhao — were nominated in the category in the same year for the first time.

Ari Wegner, director of photography, and Jane Campion, director, on the set of “The Power Of The Dog”.

Ari Wegner, director of photography, and Jane Campion, director, on the set of “The Power Of The Dog”. (Kirsty Griffin/Netflix)

Campion was the favorite to take home the award tonight.

Her fellow nominees were Kenneth Branagh (“Belfast”), Ryusuke Hamaguchi (“Drive My Car”), Paul Thomas Anderson (“Licorice Pizza”) and Steven Spielberg (“West Side Story”).

Spielberg previously beat out Campion in this category in 1994 with his win for “Schindler’s List.”

 

13 hr 29 min ago

Will Smith did not take kindly to Chris Rock’s joke

From CNN’s Lisa Respers France

Chris Rock and Will Smith onstage at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday March 27.

Chris Rock and Will Smith onstage at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday March 27. (Chris Pizzello/AP)

Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, which did not appear to go over well with her husband Will Smith.

While presenting the award for best documentary, Rock joked, “Jada I love you, ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it.”

The camera cut to Pinkett Smith, who rolled her eyes as she sat next to Smith.

“That was a nice one,” Rock said, appearing to respond to the joke not going over well.

Pinkett Smith has been open about her struggle with alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that leads to hair loss.

Rock then said, “Oh uh,” and laughed as Smith walked toward him on stage and appeared to strike Rock in the face.

According to CNN reporter Stephanie Elam, who is in the audience, she could hear Rock getting hit. Smith said twice during the incident, according to Elam, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth!”

Rock responded: “Oh, wow.”

For viewers at home, censors muted the verbal part of the exchange between Rock and Smith.

The theater went silent and Rock said, “That was the greatest night in the history of television.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs took to the stage later and told Smith and Rock that they would settle things “like family” later.

Billie Eilish and Finneas perform ‘No Time To Die’

From CNN’s Chloe Melas

Finneas, left, and Billie Eilish perform at the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 27.

Finneas, left, and Billie Eilish perform at the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 27. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Billie Eilish took the stage with her brother Finneas at the Oscars on Sunday night to perform “No Time To Die” from the James Bond film of the same name.

They are nominated for best original song, which they co-wrote.

This is the second time they’ve taken the Oscars stage. In 2020, she sang “Yesterday” by The Beatles with her brother during the in memoriam segment.

 

14 hr 8 min ago

‘Encanto’ gets the Oscars on their feet

From CNN’s Chloe Melas

Becky G, Megan Thee Stallion, and Luis Fonsi perform onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards.

Becky G, Megan Thee Stallion, and Luis Fonsi perform onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

One of the most exciting performances of Oscars night was “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from the hit Disney animated film “Encanto.”

The performance featured surprise cameos from Megan Thee Stallion and Becky G.

The catchy tune, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, knocked Adele’s “Easy On Me” out of the No.1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became the first Disney song to reach the top spot since “A Whole New World” from “Aladdin” in 1993.

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” has been streamed more than 34 million times, according to Billboard.

Sebastian Yatra also performed the ballad “Dos Oruguitas” from the film during the show.

“Encanto” is directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard and was released in the fall.

It tells the story of a family from Colombia named the Madrigals, who each have magical gifts in their town called Encanto. One character, an estranged uncle named Bruno, has the power see the future.

But as the song title suggests, the Madrigal family would prefer not to talk about it.

Megan Thee Stallion and Luis Fonsi perform “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.”

Megan Thee Stallion and Luis Fonsi perform “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

 

14 hr 21 min ago

Love for Ukraine

Fromm CNN’s Lisa Respers France

MIla Kunis speaks onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards.

MIla Kunis speaks onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Mila Kunis, who was born in Ukraine, took a moment while introducing a best song of the year nominee and performance to address the anguish in her homeland.

“Recent global events have left many of us feeling gutted,” Kunis said. “Yet, when you witness the strength and dignity of those facing such devastation, it’s impossible to not be moved by their resilience. One cannot help but be in awe of those who find strength to keep fighting through unimaginable darkness.”

Kunis, who along with her husband Ashton Kutcher has raised millions for Ukraine, introduced Reba McEntire singing “Somehow You Do,” a “song of resilience” from the film “Four Good Days.”

Reba McEntire performs onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards.

Reba McEntire performs onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards. (ABC)

After the performance, the following words flashed on the screen:

“We’d like to have a moment of silence to show our support for the people of Ukraine currently facing invasion, conflict and prejudice within their own borders. 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”

 

14 hr 8 min ago

Troy Kotsur makes Oscars history

From CNN’s Chloe Melas

Troy Kotsur, left, accepts the actor in a supporting role award for “CODA” from Youn Yuh-jung onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards.

Troy Kotsur, left, accepts the actor in a supporting role award for “CODA” from Youn Yuh-jung onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Troy Kotsur made history at the 2022 Oscars, becoming the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award in the best supporting actor category for his role in “CODA.” His co-star in the film, Marlee Matlin, won an Oscar for best actress in 1987 for her role in the movie “Children of a Lesser God.”

When Kotsur took the stage, Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung presented him with the award by signing to him and also sweetly held his Oscar so that he could use sign language to accept his award.

“This is amazing to be here on this journey. I can’t believe I’m here,” Kotsur signed. “I really want to thank all of the wonderful deaf theater stages where I was able to develop my craft as an actor.”

He continued, “My dad he was the best signer in our family but he was in a car accident and he became paralyzed from the neck down and was no longer able to sign … you are my hero.” Kotsur added that his Oscar is “dedicated” to the deaf community.

Kotsur also won a Golden Globe and SAG Award this year for his role in the film.

 

15 hr 4 min ago

Encanto wins best animated feature at the Oscars

From CNN’s Chloe Melas

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto”.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto”. (Disney)

Disney’s “Encanto” won big at the Oscars, winning best animated feature film.

The film, released in November 2021, features the voices of Stephanie Beatriz, Maria Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo, Mauro Castillo, Jessica Darrow, Angie Cepeda, Carolina Gaitan, Diane Guerrero and Wilmer Valderrama.

The film, directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, tells the story of a magical family from Colombia named the Madrigals. Main character Mirabel (Beatriz), who did not receive a special power, is tasked with saving her family’s magic and does so with help from her uncle Bruno, who can see the future.

The film’s hit song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January. The catchy tune was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and became the first Disney song to reach the top spot since the 1993 “Aladdin” hit “A Whole New World.”