Comedian Jimmy Kimmel, host of the 2018 Academy Awards, kicked off the ceremony by lecturing the crowd about sexual harassment and assault.
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Hollywood has been rocked by a wave of sexual harassment scandals over the past year, starting with reports that producer Harvey Weinstein had sexually harassed or assaulted nearly a hundred women.
Kimmel wasted no time bringing up the controversy at the beginning of his opening monologue, joking that the “Oscar” award is still the best because he “keeps his hands where you can see them.”
“Oscar is the most beloved and respected man in Hollywood and there’s a very good reason why,” Kimmel said. “Just look at him. Keeps his hands where you can see them. Never says a rude word. And most importantly, no penis at all.”
“He’s literally a statue of limitations and that’s the kind of man we need more of in town,” he joked. “Here’s how clueless Hollywood is about women: we made a movie called ‘What Women Want’ and it starred Mel Gibson.”
Kimmel also specifically brought up the Weinstein controversy, reminding the audience that he was expelled from the Academy last year.
“What’s happening with Harvey and what’s happening all over is long overdue and we can’t let bad behavior slide anymore,” he asserted. “The world is watching us and we need to set an example.”