Conan O’Brien made his debut as host of the 97th Academy Awards, delivering a lively and controversial monologue, as the event celebrates the best films of 2024.
Conan O’Brien made his much-anticipated debut as host of the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday night at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, where he delivered a lively and, at times, controversial opening monologue. The event celebrated the best films of 2024 and attracted considerable attention for its high-profile nominees as well as O’Brien’s comedic jabs at some of the evening’s attendees.
In his opening remarks, O’Brien, 61, addressed the audience with humour, taking a light-hearted dig at Karla Sofia Gascon, the star of best picture nominee Emilia Pérez, whose past social media controversies had recently resurfaced. “Karla Sofia Gascon is here tonight. And… Karla, if you’re going to tweet about the Oscars, remember, my name is Jimmy Kimmel,” he quipped. This reference aimed to draw attention to the backlash Gascon faced over her previously posted racist and anti-Muslim tweets.
O’Brien continued to engage the audience with more jokes, including a comment about best actor nominee Timothée Chalamet’s bright yellow suit. He remarked, “Timothee Chalamet is up for best actor tonight. You are amazing. And you look amazing. I bow to you. Love that suit. You will not get hit on your bike tonight.”
His monologue received enthusiastic feedback from fans, many of whom took to social media to express their approval. One viewer tweeted, “Dragging her in the opening monologue with her sitting right in front of you, Conan I’m so fond of you! #oscars.” Another user commented, “Conan is absolutely killing it,” and a third noted the humorous difficulty of watching the ceremony while dining outside.
Earlier in the evening, O’Brien’s entrance was marked by a bold parody performance in which he emerged from inside actress Demi Moore. This contributed to the energetic atmosphere of the ceremony, reinforcing O’Brien’s comedic persona as he took on the challenge of hosting such a prominent event.
The ceremony itself was notably marked by a competitive landscape in several major categories. Emilia Pérez led the nominations with a total of 13, including best picture and best actress for Gascon’s performance. The film tells the story of a former Mexican drug lord who reinvents herself, highlighting major themes of identity and transformation.
The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet, followed closely with 10 nominations, including best picture, best director, and best actor for Adrien Brody. The film, which centres on a Jewish Hungarian architect, was praised for its exploration of conflict and ambition amid historical trauma.
In addition to these films, Wicked, a musical adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, also received 10 nominations, underscoring the versatility of genre representation at this year’s Oscars.
As for the acting categories, while Chalamet was seen as a strong contender after his unexpected win at the Screen Actors Guild Awards for his role in A Complete Unknown, Brody remained a favourite due to his successes earlier in the season. Ralph Fiennes also remained in the conversation for his role in Conclave, a film about a secretive papal election.
The best actress contenders featured an intriguing mix, particularly following controversies surrounding some nominees. Demi Moore, who has received critical acclaim for her comeback performance in The Substance, entered the evening with significant momentum after several major award victories. Meanwhile, Gascon’s nomination was seen as historic due to her status as the first openly transgender woman nominated in the best actress category. However, her past tweets had raised questions about her candidacy, with reports indicating that Netflix ceased financing her participation in the awards circuit following the backlash.
The ceremony also highlighted the evolving dynamics of awards recognition, particularly in light of the varying narratives that have unfolded through this awards season. Other nominees in the category include Mikey Madison for Anora and Cynthia Erivo for Wicked, each of whom has made strides in their respective performances.
The 2025 Oscars commenced at 7 p.m. ET, making history not only for O’Brien’s hosting but for its availability across various platforms including for the first time on Hulu.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-is-oscars-host-2025-conan-obrien/ – This article confirms Conan O’Brien as the host of the 97th Academy Awards and provides background on his career. It also mentions the ceremony’s broadcast details.
- https://6abc.com/post/oscars-2025-host-conan-pays-homage-hollywood-fires-takes-jabs-nominees/15967041/ – This report highlights Conan O’Brien’s monologue at the Oscars, including his jokes about nominees and his tribute to Hollywood. It also mentions a surprise cameo by Adam Sandler.
- https://abc7.com/post/oscars-2025-host-conan-pays-homage-hollywood-fires-takes-jabs-nominees/15967041/ – Similar to the previous source, this article details Conan O’Brien’s opening monologue and his interactions with nominees, reinforcing the comedic tone of the event.
- https://www.courts.michigan.gov/49008a/siteassets/publications/benchbooks/evidence/evidbb.pdf – Although not directly related to the Oscars, this document discusses legal aspects of evidence and authentication, which could be tangentially relevant to controversies surrounding nominees.
- https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/scv/rulesofcourt.pdf – This document provides legal context but does not directly relate to the Oscars. It could be used to understand legal frameworks relevant to controversies or disputes involving nominees.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references the 97th Academy Awards, which would have occurred in 2025, indicating recent content. However, without specific confirmation of the event’s date or details from other sources, the score is not perfect.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The quotes provided, such as Conan O’Brien’s monologue, do not have clear online references to verify their originality. This could indicate they are original or not widely reported elsewhere.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a well-known publication but one that may have varying levels of credibility depending on the topic. The reliability is generally good but can be subject to bias or sensationalism.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about the Oscars ceremony and nominees seem plausible given the context of awards season. However, specific details like Conan O’Brien hosting and certain nominees could not be verified without additional sources.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be recent and plausible, but certain details such as quotes and specific events could not be verified. The source is generally reliable but may have biases. Further verification is needed for a definitive assessment.
