Bago manalo ng Best Actor sa 94th Academy Awards… WILL SMITH, sinapak si CHRIS ROCK dahil kay JADA at nag-apologize din sa acceptance speech

HISTORY making night na sinamahan ng kontrobersya ang naganap na 94th Academy Awards or the Oscars sa Dolby Theater in Hollywood.

Sa unang pagkakataon ay tatlong babae ang naging hosts ng Oscars na sina Wanda Sykes, Regina Hall at Amy Schumer.

“This year the Academy hired three women to host – because it’s cheaper than hiring one man,” sey ni Schumer.

Sey naman ni Hall: “But I’m still excited to be hosting, representing Black women who are standing proud.”

        Sagot ulit ni Schumer: “And I’m representing unbearable white women who call the cops when you get a little too loud.”

Ang nag-uwi ng pinakamaraming parangal ay ang pelikulang Dune na nag-uwi ng six Oscars sa technical categories (Best Visual Effects, Cinematography, Production Design, Editing, Sound and Score).

Ang nagwaging Best Picture ay ang CODA na first film produced by the streaming service Apple TV Plus.

Si Jane Campion ang naging ikatlong female director na manalo ng Oscar Best Director after Kathryn Bigelow (2010 for the Hurt Locker) and Chloe Zhao (2021 for Nomadland). Nanalo siya para sa pelikulang The Power of the Dog.

Bago manalo si Will Smith ng Best Actor para sa pelikulang King Richard, naging pisikal ito sa comedian na si Chris Rock dahil sa ginawang joke nito on live television ang pagpapakalbo ng misis niyang si Jada Pinkett-Smith.

Umakyat sa entablado si Smith at sinapak nito ang mukha ni Rock. Pagbalik ni Smith sa kanyang upuan, sinabi niya na: “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!”

Nag-viral sa social media ang pangyayaring iyon dahil hindi ito na-edit out sa ilang countries na palabas ng live ang Oscar Awards. Na-post ito agad sa YouTube. After ng incident, pinilit na magsalita si Rock sa Oscars press room sa ginawa sa kanyang ni Smith.

Sagot ni Rock: “I’m not talking about that. This is about the Harlem cultural festival.”

Sa acceptance speech ni Smith, naging emosyonal ito at nag-apologize sa Academy sa kanyang naging marahas na aksyon. Pero hindi siya personal na nag-apologize kay Rock.

“I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award. It’s not about winning an award for me. It’s about being able to shine a light on all of the people.

“I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people, and to be a river to my people. You’ve got to be able to take abuse, you’ve got to smile and pretend like that’s OK,” sey ni Smith na kinausap ni Denzel Washington privately after sa insidente nila ni Rock onstage.

Si Jessica Chastain ang tinanghal na Best Actress para sa pelikulang The Eyes of Tammy Faye at dedicated niya ang kanyang panalo sa LGBTQ Community: “Discriminatory and bigoted legislation that is sweeping our country with the only goal of further dividing us. I see it as a guiding principle that leads up forward. You are unconditionally loved for the uniqueness that is you.”

        Si Troy Kotsur ang kauna-unahang deaf man to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor para sa pelikulang CODA. Dedicated sa kanyang father and kanyang panalo. Muestra niya in sign language: “Dad, I learned so much from you. I’ll always love you. You are my hero.”

        Si Ariana DeBose naman ang first openly queer woman of color na manalo ng Oscar Award for Best Supporting Actress para sa role niya as Anita sa West Side Story, na napanalunan din ni Rita Moreno sa 1961 film version: “I’m so grateful your Anita paved the way for tons of Anitas like me.”

        Narito ang iba pang nanalo:

Best International Feature: “Drive My Car”; Best Animated Feature: “Encanto”; Best Adapted Screenplay: “CODA”; Best Original Screenplay: “Belfast”; Best Costume Design: “Cruella”; Best Original Song: “No Time to Die”; Best Makeup and Hairstyling: “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”; Best Documentary Feature: “Summer of Soul”; Best: Documentary (Short Subject): “The Queen of Basketball.”; Best Short (Animated): “The Windshield Wiper.” and Best Short Film (Live Action): “The Long Goodbye.”

(RUEL J. MENDOZA)