US actress and comedian Amy Schumer (L), US actress and comedian Wanda Sykes (C) and US actress Regina Hall speak onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES (CBSMiami/AP) — The Florida connection to Hollywood’s biggest night came before any Oscar award winners were announced.
The first political salvo of Sunday night’s Academy Awards came in the opening monologue, when Wanda Sykes — one of the trio of hosts for the show — took a thinly veiled jab at Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill which was signed into law on Monday by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
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The openly gay Sykes said: “We’re going to have a great night tonight. And for you people in Florida, we’re going to have a gay night.” She and fellow hosts Amy Schumer and Regina Hall then repeated the word “gay” multiple times, as many in the crowd such as Denzel Washington and Nicole Kidman smiled and applauded in delight.
The bill, which passed earlier this month and has been staunchly defended by Gov. Ron DeSantis, forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Its passing by Florida lawmakers rejected an onslaught of criticism from Democrats that it marginalizes LGBTQ people.
It has been loudly opposed by LGBTQ advocates, the White House and many within the entertainment industry.
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The shot at the Florida bill wasn’t the only political jab the hosts took in their opening monologue.
“This year we saw a frightening display of how toxic masculinity turns into cruelty towards women and children,” Hall said.
“Damn that Mitch McConnell,” Sykes responded.
Hall said she was merely setting up a line about Oscar-nominated “The Power of the Dog.”
And they didn’t just target politics as joke subjects to open the show: The trio also made light of the controversial decision to have eight Oscars presented before the show, basketball star LeBron James’ hairline and even the Golden Globes.
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(© Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
