From political remarks to multiple push-ups, many actors and actresses have created countless unforgettable moments throughout the Oscars history. Instead of the typical thank-you’s and acknowledgements that take up most acceptance speeches, some choose to do it a little differently and take a stand on sensitive political issues.

During the three-hour telecast, their statements instantly become the center of attention, leaving a lasting impression on the film industry and the nation at large. From 2003 to the most recent Academy Awards in 2015, The UOS Times has picked out three winners who became outspoken on their political views at the podium: Michael Moore, Patricia Arquette, and Charles Ferguson.

Gun Control

Michael Moore won the Best Documentary award for his bold yet controversial film, Bowling for Columbine, which features what he believes are the backgrounds for the massacre at Columbine High School and acts of guns violence in the United States. Moore did not hesitate to give his political two cents at the Academy Awards as well.

“On behalf of our producers Kathleen Glynn and Michael Donovan from Canada, I’d like to thank the Academy for this. I have invited my fellow documentary nominees on the stage with us, and we would like to - they're here in solidarity with me because we like nonfiction. We like nonfiction and we live in fictitious times. We live in the time where we have fictitious election results that elect a fictitious president. We live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons. Whether it's the fiction of duct tape or fiction of orange alerts we are against this war, Mr. Bush. Shame on you, Mr. Bush, shame on you. And any time you got the Pope and the Dixie Chicks against you, your time is up.”

Women’s Rights

Patricia Arquette delivered a passionate speech on gender equality in front of the media. Pointing out the problem of the wage gap between men and women, her speech received a standing ovation from fellow female celebrities present at the Oscars.

“My friends who all work so hard to make this world a better place. To my parents, Rosanna, Richmond, Alexis and David. To my favorite painter in the world, Eric White, for the inspiration of living with a genius. To my heroes, volunteers and experts who have helped me bring ecological sanitation to the developing world with GiveLove.org.
To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else’s equal rights. It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America.”

Economic Recession

Charles Ferguson became the winner of another Best Documentary Award in 2011 for Inside Job, in which he analyzed the economic crisis of 2008. In accepting his award, Ferguson brought the arguments of his documentary to the stage and criticized the lack of accountability in Wall Street and bureaucrats.

“Forgive me, I must start by pointing out that three years after our horrific financial crisis caused by massive fraud, not a single financial executive has gone to jail, and that’s wrong.”

Jeong Sae-hee
saeheejeong1@uos.ac.kr