Oscars rejects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's plea to make appearance | Hollywood - Hindustan Times
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Oscars rejects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's plea to make appearance: Report

Mar 10, 2023 12:37 PM IST

The Academy has declined the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from giving speech virtually at Oscars 2023.

For the second time in a row, the Academy have rejected Ukraninan President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from delivering a virtual speech at the Academy Awards ceremony to be held on March 12 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. (Also read: Chris Rock on Will Smith's Oscars slap in Netflix special: ‘I’m not a victim baby, you will never see me on Oprah...')

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was denied to present a virtual speech at the 2023 Oscar ceremony.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was denied to present a virtual speech at the 2023 Oscar ceremony.

The comedian-turned-politician, who was welcomed by other award ceremonies in the past, and following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Zelenskyy has made a virtual appearance at both the Cannes and Venice film festivals last year and even at the recently held Grammy awards. The Ukrainian president was given a standing ovation when he appeared virtually for the opening gala at the recently concluded Berlin Film Festival. "Cinema is able to overcome borders and walls, whether real or ideological. It seems to me very symbolic. Today, Russia wants to build the same wall... between civilization and tyranny," he said in his virtual address.

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As per the report by Variety, WME power agent Mike Simpson requested the Academy to include the Ukraninan President in a virtual spot for Sunday's telecast but was turned down. The Academy has also declined to add any further comments on the same. Last year too, The Academy declined to grant the Ukranian President a virtual spot at the Oscars. According to sources, Oscars Producer Will Packer had expressed his concerns that Hollywood was only providing attention towards Ukraine because the states affected by the conflict are white. He argued that Hollywood had previously ignored several wars that involved people of color.

His most recent awards-show appearance was at the 80th Golden Globe Awards in January, where he was introduced by actor Sean Penn. In a virtual message, Zelenskyy had said “It is already clear who will win. There are still battles and tears ahead, but now I can definitely tell you who was the best in the previous year: It was you. The free people of the free world.”

The 95th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California and will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

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