Oscars 2016: Celebrities react to Chris Rock's hosting gig
Chris Rock opened the Oscars with a scathing monologue about racism in Hollywood that included such lines as:
- "We were too busy being raped and lynched to care about who won best cinematographer" in the 1960s.
- "This year, in the In Memoriam package, it's just going to be black people that were shot by the cops on the way to the movies."
The monologue, which was longer than nine minutes, made big waves on social media, especially with celebrities.
How'd he do?
The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, with thumbs up emojis from Oprah Winfrey and huge praises from the comedy community. Chelsea Handler even said, "Quite possibly the best opening monologue to the Oscars," followed by an expletive about how great the writing was.
@chrisrock👍🏾👍🏾 now you Breathe!
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) February 29, 2016
That was really incredible @chrisrock #Oscars
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) February 29, 2016
Ahahahahahahahaha chris Rock so smart #oscars
— Jamie Kennedy (@JamieKennedy) February 29, 2016
I didn't think Chris Rock would stay this long on #OscarsSoWhite. I am SO glad he is! Genius. Smart. Eloquent. Hilarious.
— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) February 29, 2016
#ChrisRock is absolutely DESTROYING
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 29, 2016
Watching @chrisrock kill it on the Oscars.
— Sinbad (@sinbadbad) February 29, 2016
Good job Chris.
Chris rocked. #Oscars2016
— Joshua Malina (@JoshMalina) February 29, 2016
.@chrisrock #ChrisRock #ChrisRock #ChrisRock #Perfecto #NotInvitedtoRihannasPanties
— Joel McHale (@joelmchale) February 29, 2016
Loved @chrisrock's monologue. Went right for it, called out Hollywood as being very nice racists. Ouch! #Oscars
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) February 29, 2016
Hey @chrisrock#OscarsSoFunny
— Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) February 29, 2016
💛TyTy
But the praise wasn't unanimous, with Angie Harmon arguing that black actors did deserve nominations this year, and Demi Lovato employing crying emojis.
Shonda Rhimes didn't say anything about Rock, but she did call Stacey Dash a fool in her tweet -- we're assuming she didn't appreciate Dash's Black History Month bit.
Yes @chrisrock ... @idriselba @JasonMitch #willsmith should have been nominated. DEFINITELY
— Angie Harmon (@Angie_Harmon) February 29, 2016
Yo..... Chris Rock right now though....... 😭😭😭
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) February 29, 2016
Let me be petty: I had fashion goals 4 dress Dash wore and now the gown has to be dead to me. Yes, #askmemore but #doNOTwastefashiononfool.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) February 29, 2016
Meanwhile, activist DeRay McKesson chided the comedian, saying, "There are still 'real things to protest,' @chrisrock. Like, police violence. And the #FlintWaterCrisis."
There are still "real things to protest," @chrisrock. Like, police violence. And the #FlintWaterCrisis. #Oscars
— deray mckesson (@deray) February 29, 2016
What did you think about Chris Rock's opening monologue?