Hello, Hellbenters! We’re only into month two of 2017, and everything is the heaping pile of trash that you thought it would be. But luckily, the Oscars provided a brief reprieve and reminder that America can be pretty fucking great sometimes. SOMETIMES.
Without further ado, here are some moments that made us believe in Lady Liberty again…
Ava DuVernay Wears a Gown By a Designer From a Majority Muslim Country
In what she described as a “small sign of solidarity,” Ava Duvernay showed up in a gorgeous silver dress by Ashi Studio. While Lebanon — the country where the design studio is located — is not among the seven nations that our Asshat-in-Chief included in his travel ban, DuVernay’s gesture was clearly a symbol in opposition to it.
We love your gesture of solidarity and for being a #MuslimAlly at the #Oscars. We hope others will join you at https://t.co/z8c5WTz1QT.
— True Islam (@TrueIslamUSA) February 27, 2017
Mahershala Ali Becomes The First Muslim Actor To Win An Oscar
First of all, how the fuck did it take this long? Oh yeah, #OscarsSoWhite (still). And yet, it felt incredibly apropros that the first award of the night was handed out to this talented man of Islamic faith.
https://twitter.com/MuslimIQ/status/836055263270617089
At a time when Islam is under intense scrutiny, it's so powerful for young Muslims to see a Muslim win an Oscar. You can accomplish anything
— Momin Qureshi (@Momin680NEWS) February 27, 2017
“Best Makeup” Oscar Winner Gives a Shout Out to Immigrants
Directly on the heels of Mahershala Ali’s historic Oscar victory, one of the Best Makeup winners Alessandro Bertolazzi said, “I’m an immigrant, I came from Italy. This is for all the immigrants.”
Diversity 2, Bigotry 0
Alessandro Bertolazzi, accepting Academy Award for makeup and hairstyling: "This is for all the immigrants" https://t.co/Uw8bHLMeC7 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/lNL13niaxc
— ABC News (@ABC) February 27, 2017
Gael Garcia Bernal Speaks Out Against Trump’s #FuckingWall
Actor and all-around hottie after my own heart Gael Garcia Bernal basically spoke directly to Donald Trump, saying: “As a Mexican, as a migrant worker, as a human being, I’m against any form of wall that separates us.” Expletive translation: FUCK YOU AND YOUR FUCKING WALL, ASSHOLE.
"Gael García Bernal: "As a Mexican…I'm against any form of wall that wants to separate us." #Oscars pic.twitter.com/rHU9g7TxL6
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) February 27, 2017
And even better, the award Gael Garcia Bernal presented went to anti-discrimination film “Zootopia” for “Best Animated Feature.”
ZOOTOPIA WAS MORE THAN A MOVIE, IT WAS A SOCIAL AWARENESS TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY, DESERVED EVERY RIGHT TO WIN THAY AWARD. GET OUTTA HERE
— Jonathan Mejia (@JohnnyMej) February 27, 2017
“The Salesman” Winners Protest Trump
Director Asghar Farhadi and lead actress Taraneh Alidoosti boycotted the Oscars due to Trump’s travel ban, sending two Iranian-Americans – a female engineer and a former NASA scientist – to accept the award on their behalf. Engineer Anousheh Ansari read Farhadi’s statement, which said: “My absence is out of respect for the people of my country and those of other six nations whom have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the U.S. Dividing the world into the ‘us’ and ‘our enemies’ categories creates fear, a deceitful justification for aggression and war.”
Wow #TheSalesMan won the best foreign language Oscar and the director is from a country on Trump's travel ban list #Iran #Oscars
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) February 27, 2017
Iran film The Salesman wins Best Foreign film Yo, you can travel ban a country but you can't make their movies suck. #Oscars
— Negin Farsad (@NeginFarsad) February 27, 2017
Hidden Figures Flawlessness
I don’t think there are words for the magic that is Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae, and Octavia Spencer, so I won’t even try. And as if their perfection wasn’t enough to make you faint, real-life “Hidden Figure” Katherine Johnson joined them onstage to present the award for Best Documentary.
Everything about this. #Oscars #AlgebrasAngels #KatherineJohnson pic.twitter.com/xDAIc9tGIk
— Women's March (@womensmarch) February 27, 2017
Thank you, #Oscars for bringing Katherine Johnson on stage for the recognition she deserves for her service at NASA. #HiddenFigures
— NARAL (@NARAL) February 27, 2017
Teenager Auli’i Cravalho Sings Her Heart Out
I dunno what you were doing at 16-years-old, but I was most definitely playing N64 all day and crushing bags of Doritos. Which was definitely not what “Moana” star Auli’i Cravalho did tonight when she performed “How Far I’ll Go.” THANKS FOR MAKING ME FEEL UNACCOMPLISHED YOU LITTLE GODDESS YOU.
Auli'i Cravalho singing 'How Far I'll Go' from 'Moana' genuinely gave me goosebumps. She really is a Disney princess. #Oscars
— Alex Goldschmidt (@alexandergold) February 27, 2017
Auli'i Cravalho is only 16, just got smacked in the head during a live performance, and kept singing her heart out. Be like Auli'i! #oscars
— Erin Downey Howerton (@hybridlib) February 27, 2017
Viola Davis’ First Oscar Win
Actress/human extraordinare Viola Davis picked up her first Academy award, becoming just the second Black woman (after Whoopi Goldberg) to win an Emmy, Tony, and Oscar. As per usual, Viola’s speech was STRAIGHT FIRE.
every Viola Davis speech is a certified classic
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) February 27, 2017
now I sit and wait for Viola Davis's hit single to win that Grammy and complete the EGOT
— Sabrina Carpenter (@SabrinaAnnLynn) February 27, 2017
Everything About Moonlight Winning “Best Adapted Screenplay”
Moonlight, one of the most consequential films of the year, should have won more Oscars. But the film got its first award of the night for Best Adapted Screenplay, where Tarell Alvin McCraney dedicated the Oscar to “all those black and brown boys and girls and nongender conforming.” Director Barry Jenkins also added, “The ACLU has your back.”
PLAYWRIGHTS!
BLACK PLAYWRIGHTS!
QUEER BLACK PLAYWRIGHTS!#Oscars— R. Eric Thomas (@oureric) February 27, 2017
Moonlight isn't just a story about gay men. It's about a POOR, gay BLACK MAN struggling with his sexuality AND conforming with masculinity.
— D.J. @ FlameCon Q127 ?️? (@OhHeyDJ) February 27, 2017
AND THAT FUCKING BEST PICTURE PLOT TWIST
Are you still shook? Cuz I sure as fuck am. I’m glad to see Moonlight win “Best Picture,” but did we really have to go on that journey, Warren Beatty?!?
THIS NEVER HAPPENED IN OBAMA'S AMERICA #oscars
— shauna (@goldengateblond) February 27, 2017
MOONLIGHT WON THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
— Ziwe (@ziwe) February 27, 2017
That was the plot twist that America really needed right now. #Oscars
— Sarah Lerner (@SarahLerner) February 27, 2017
What a show. Now can we impeach Donald Fucking Trump already?