March 27 (Reuters) – Hollywood shared slightly little bit of its large night time with the individuals of Ukraine on Sunday, utilizing textual content on a display screen to ask the world for monetary contributions for these affected by the Russian assault.
A couple of celebrities additionally made transient feedback, however the Oscars telecast distinctly didn’t flip right into a megaphone for messages about Ukraine. As an alternative, the present’s administrators opted for a silent message that didn’t point out Russia, which invaded Ukraine 31 days in the past.
“We would prefer to have a second of silence to indicate our assist for the individuals of Ukraine at present going through invasion, battle and prejudice inside their very own borders,” learn the message posted on display screen simply earlier than a business break.
The message stated hundreds of thousands of households wanted meals, medical care, clear water and emergency companies and requested viewers for humanitarian support.
“We ask you to assist Ukraine in any method you’re able,” learn the silent message, including the hashtag #StandWithUkraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin calls the battle a “particular navy operation” that Moscow says is geared toward demilitarizing and “denazifying” its neighbor. Ukraine and its Western allies name this a pretext for an unprovoked invasion.
Earlier than the present, there have been strategies that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy may make an look by means of video hyperlink, as he has finished in parliaments world wide whereas urging the West to present Ukraine tanks, planes and missiles to assist fend off Russian forces and to impose a no-fly zone.
However he didn’t seem.
There have been a couple of references to Ukraine however none to Russia.
“Viva Ukraine!” stated director Francis Ford Coppola throughout a phase honoring the fiftieth anniversary of “The Godfather.”
Co-host Amy Schumer additionally threw in a reference, saying, “And there is a genocide happening in Ukraine and ladies are dropping all of their rights.”
Simply earlier than the Oscar plea for support, Ukrainian-born actress Mila Kunis made a veiled reference to the difficulty in her fatherland.
“Latest international occasions have left many people feeling gutted. But whenever you witness the energy and dignity of these going through such devastation, it is unattainable to not be moved by their resilience,” Kunis stated, organising a nominee for finest music.
Kunis, 38, was born within the Ukrainian metropolis of Chernivtsi and immigrated to the US at age 7. She has been energetic in elevating cash for Ukraine.
On March 20, Zelenskiy praised Kunis and her husband, actor Ashton Kutcher, on Twitter, saying they had been “among the many first to answer our grief” and had raised $35 million for Ukrainian causes.
In one other understated second, actor Jason Momoa wore a handkerchief in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
One oblique reference to Russia got here when filmmaker Ben Proudfoot acquired the Oscar for finest brief topic documentary, calling for the discharge of Girls’s Nationwide Basketball Affiliation participant Brittney Griner, who has been detained in a Russian jail.
“President Biden, carry Brittney Griner residence,” Proudfoot stated.
It was not clear precisely when Griner was detained, however it was introduced after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, which dramatically worsened relations between Washington and Moscow.
Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Enhancing by Howard Goller
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