Conan O'Brien takes aim at Donald Trump with risky comment that references Putin
The Academy Awards have long been famed for their strict rules on what presenters, winners and hosts can and cannot say whilst live.
Naturally, therefore, millions of spectators watching from home were utterly blindsided by a remark that the show's frontman Conan O'Brien made about the ongoing tensions between Europe and the US.
The comment comes just days after the bombshell interview between American president Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy went viral.
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On Friday night, the two world leaders butted heads over Vladimir Putin's invasion of the Eastern European country, with many subsequently slamming both Trump and his vice president, JD Vance, for their treatment of the Ukrainian leader, and their apparent favour of Putin.
The sensitivity of the subject matter at hand meant that film and TV buffs were utterly thrown off when Conan O'Brien alluded to the fiery row - as well as 78-year-old Trump's controversial stance - during tonight's Oscars (2 Mar).
Speaking on the show, the 61-year-old comedian's thinly veiled joke discussed the importance of 'standing up to powerful a powerful Russian'.
Discussing the success of gritty Oscar-nominated blockbuster Anora - which tells the story of a Brooklyn sex worker who meets and marries the son of an Russian oligarch - O'Brien began by stating: "Anora is having a good night."
The comic continued: "That's great news. Two wins already.
"I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian."
Seconds later, the live studio audience erupted into cheers and applause, seemingly indicating the predominant support of O'Brien's statement, and his poking fun at the Republican leader.
The presenter also received mass support online.
Taking to social media, one gushed: "That Trump-Russia Anora joke was amazing. That's comedic timing!"
Another wrote: "Conan still the absolute best."
"Perfect #maga's about to have a meltdown," a third continued.
Oscars 2025 results: the nominees and winners announced so far
Best supporting actor
Yura Borisov - Anora
Kieran Culkin - A Real Pain - WINNER
Edward Norton - A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce - The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong - The Apprentice
Best animated feature
Flow - WINNER
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot
Best costume design
Wicked - WINNER
Nosferatu
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Gladiator II
Best original screenplay
Anora - Sean Baker - WINNER
The Brutalist - Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold
A Real Pain - Jesse Eisenberg
September 5 - Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, Alex David
The Substance - Coralie Fargeat
Best adapted screenplay
A Complete Unknown - Jay Cocks and James Mangold
Conclave - Peter Straughan - WINNER
Emilia Pérez - Jacques Audiard
Nickel Boys - RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes
Sing Sing - Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar
Best make-up and hairstyling
A Different Man
Emilia Pérez
Nosferatu
The Substance - WINNER
Wicked
Best film editing
Anora - WINNER
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
Best supporting actress
Monica Barbaro - A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande - Wicked
Felicity Jones - The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini - Conclave
Zoe Saldaña - Emilia Pérez - WINNER
Best production design
Wicked - WINNER
The Brutalist
Dune: Part Two
Nosferatu
Conclave
Best original song
'Never Too Late' - Elton John: Never Too Late
'El Mal' - Emilia Pérez - WINNER
'Mi Camino' - Emilia Pérez
'Like A Bird' - Sing Sing
'The Journey' - The Six Triple Eight
Best sound
A Complete Unknown
Dune: Part Two - WINNER
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Best visual effects
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Dune: Part Two - WINNER
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Wicked
Best cinematography
The Brutalist - WINNER
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Maria
Nosferatu
Best original score
The Brutalist - WINNER
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Best international feature
I'm Still Here - Brazil - WINNER
The Girl with the Needle - Denmark
Emilia Pérez - France
The Seed of the Sacred Fig - Germany
Flow - Latvia
Best actor
Adrien Brody - The Brutalist - WINNER
Timothée Chalamet - A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo - Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes - Conclave
Sebastian Stan - The Apprentice
Best director
Jacques Audiard - Emilia Pérez
Sean Baker - Anora - WINNER
Brady Corbet - The Brutalist
Coralie Fargeat - The Substance
James Mangold - A Complete Unknown
Best actress
Cynthia Erivo - Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón - Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison - Anora - WINNER
Demi Moore - The Substance
Fernanda Torres - I'm Still Here
Best picture
Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I'm Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked
Topics: Celebrity, US News, Oscars, Politics, Donald Trump, World News, TV And Film
Rhianna Benson