Weinstein Victims At Oscars Urge Hollywood To Raise Up “Truth, Honor And Justice”

Every year the Academy Awards honor the “best” in film. The issue plaguing the Academy this time around is that the last year has finally exposed the worst in film. Last fall, Harvey Weinstein‘s despicable practices were finally laid out in the light, and soon a score of Hollywood’s most powerful men were revealed to be predators. The Oscars chose to confront these awful revelations head on, in a powerful segment that might be the only Oscars moment you need to watch.

Talented actresses and Weinstein victims Ashley Judd, Annabella Sciorra, and Salma Hayek came out together in a show of force to address the change that had happened in the last year. While it was clearly a sober moment, it was also a galvanizing one. Judd, Sciorra, and Hayek were there to introduce a pre-taped montage ruminating on the state of the industry: what had long been wrong, what was changing, and how this past year in particular was a banner one for inclusion.

The clip that followed featured the likes of Geena Davis, Ava DuVernay, Barry Jenkins, Greta Gerwig, Kumail Nanjiani, and Jordan Peele discussing the importance of inclusion and diversity in culture and on the screen. It was a beautifully inspiring moment. In fact, it was another actress abused by Weinstein, Oscar winner Mira Sorvino, who was able to beautifully summarize the task filmmakers have: “We have a chance to lionize beauty and truth, honor and justice.”

After the clip ended, James Ivory won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Call Me By Your Name, and Jordan Peele won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Get Out.