The Oscar red carpet saw some major political statements made via the choice of garments. From Brad Pitt bashing Trump impeachment trial on stage to Syrian director Al-Kateab and actor Natalie Portman’s impeccably embroidered messages, read on …
The Oscar 2020 night conveyed some strong political sentiments this year. The start of the decade marked more and more celebrities making statements about the causes they support.
The 92 Academy Awards started with actor Steve Martin and Chris Rock taking a jibe at Iowa Caucus mishap in their opening monologue saying, “They have guaranteed this will not happen this year because the Academy has switched to the new Iowa caucus app.”
Actor Brad Pitt who bagged an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor noted lack of witnesses at Trump’s impeachment trial saying, “They told me I have 45 seconds this year, which is 45 seconds more than the Senate gave John Bolton this week.”
Actor Joaquin Phoenix who took home the Best Actor’s trophy used the Academy podium to make a point about gender inequality, racism, animal rights and environmentalism during his speech. He said, “I think that we’ve become very disconnected from the natural world, and many of us, what we’re guilty of, is an egocentric worldview. We go into the natural world and plunder its resources.”
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Joaquin Phoenix
Phoenix not only used the podium but left his mark on the Red carpet too. For the third time this season, he wore the same Stella McCartney suit. He pledged before the start of the award season to re-wear the same suit for environmental purposes.
And like Phoenix some made their statement on the red carpet via their sartorial choices.
Natalie Portman
Actor Natalie Portman called out Gender Inequality in the most embroidered way! She wore a Dior cape that had names of all the over-looked female directors by the academy. This year she made a much needed political sartorial statement. Names on her cape included Hustler director Lorene Scafaria, director Marielle Heller A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Little Women’s Greta Gerwig, Alma Har’el for Honey Boy, Lulu Wang of The Farewell, Céline Sciamma for Portrait of a Lady on Fire and more.
Al-Kateab
Another political statement at the Oscar red carpet came from Syrian director, Al-Kateab, who was nominated for Best Documentary Feature with For Sama. An activist, mother and movie maker, her featurette narrates her life during Syrian war. She wore a dress with Arabic inscriptions embroidered that translates to “we dared to dream and we will not regret dignity.”
Spike Lee
Spike Lee and his purples are a red carpet favourite. Last year, Lee bear-hugged actor Samule L Jackson in his purple suit on stage. But this time his suit took some last minute adjustments. Lee wore number “24” on the lapel of his suit and at the back to honour the memory of basketball legend Kobe Bryant who recently deceased in a tragic helicopter crash with his daughter and others.
Jonathan Pryce
Speaking of lapels best actor nominee for The Two Popes, Jonathan Pryce donned ‘Choose Love’ pin to support an organization that benefits refugees.
Sandy Powell
British Costume Designer Sandy Powell wore a white calico suit covered in signatures of Hollywood stars. She got more and more signatures throughout the night as she plans to auction it off after the awards season. She wore the same suit to BAFTA’s in London recently, actors like Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Saoirse Ronan, Woody Harelson, Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie and Renée Zellweger have signed the suit by far. The proceedings from the auction will help preserve a cottage owned by her late friend Derek Jarman.
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