Host Chris Rock summed up the underlying message of the Oscars in his opening monologue: "Is Hollywood racist? You're damn right, Hollywood is racist."
The lead-up to #OscarsSoWhite 2016 braced us for a whitewashed ceremony, but not even Rock's man on the street bit could save the Academy Awards from being endlessly frustrating to watch.
Rock kicked off Hollywood's biggest night by addressing the lack of diversity at this year's Oscars (and let's be honest, every other Oscars ceremony) head on, focusing on the inequality of opportunity actors of color are forced to deal with. There were also a few genuine highlights of the ceremony, including Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's acceptance speech for the Oscar for Best Documentary (Short Subject). "This is what happens when determined women get together," she said.
In what might have been the most powerful few minutes of the night, Lady Gaga performed "Til It Happens To You," while sexual assault survivors joined her onstage. Her performance was preceded by an important introduction from Vice President Joe Biden.
While Rock tackled #OscarsSoWhite in a room full of the film industry's biggest names, women made sure their voices were heard online. From emphasizing that the Oscars should honor people of all colors, to calling out the frustrating lack of women nominated outside of the actress categories, women on Twitter nailed why the Oscars can be so frustrating to watch.
Here are 35 tweets that sum up what the Oscars are still missing:
The Oscars are today! You know, the awards show where Leonardo DiCaprio is "overdue" but black people can "wait till next year."
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) February 28, 2016
Chris rock's monologue was good but 1) protest wasn't just a 1960's thing, and 2) white people: stop laughing at lynching jokes 😑
— farwz (@farwzaz) February 29, 2016
Was really disappointed by Chris Rock saying the #AskHerMore campaign is in response to “not real sexism” =/ Expected better from him.
— Rebecca Eisenberg (@ryeisenberg) February 29, 2016
I liked @chrisrock but not so muchthe diss of #AskHerMore because at some point who are you wearing really is an assanine question! #Oscars
— Katie Couric (@katiecouric) February 29, 2016
Wow, check out all that diversity in the opening montage. It's like there are PoCs in film now!
— Mahnoor Yawar (@mahnoorie) February 29, 2016
The cameras keep trying to find the 5 people of color in the audience to see how they're reacting to Chris Rock #Oscars
— Emma Gray (@emmaladyrose) February 29, 2016
Who will win Best Squirming In Their Seat By A White Actor? #OscarsSoWhite
— Just A Plain Doll (@missbanshee) February 29, 2016
"We want Black actors to get the same opportunity..." @chrisrock But what ABOUT the Latinos? Asians? etc We want that too!
— Carolina J. Moreno (@CaritoJuliette) February 29, 2016
Black people and all POC not only want opportunity, we want recognition. #Oscars #OscarsSoWhite
— Casey Bruce (@CaptCaseyBruce) February 29, 2016
I regret finding an oscars livestream
— Jazmine Hughes (@jazzedloon) February 29, 2016
Welcome to the Academy of white nervous laughing... #AcademyAwards #Oscars
— Caroline Webster (@runonoptimism) February 29, 2016
I feel like I can't move on until someone explains Stacey dash #Oscars
— lindsay peoples (@lrpeoples) February 29, 2016
white people, far as the eye can see
— Tracy Clayton (@brokeymcpoverty) February 29, 2016
Stacey... what? Girl.
— Taryn Finley (@_TARYNitUP) February 29, 2016
This Leslie Jones movie would be better than half the films that get the green light #Oscars pic.twitter.com/uX0kTu559x
— Jessica Goodman (@jessgood) February 29, 2016
This transcript is gonna be like:
— Lizzie O'Leary (@lizzieohreally) February 29, 2016
[terrified laughter]
— Delia Ephron (@DeliaEphron) February 29, 2016
Turned off the Oscars because I've always had a crush on Chris Rock and I want to continue having a crush on Chris Rock
— Jazmine Hughes (@jazzedloon) February 29, 2016
The best acting of her Uncle Tom life. https://t.co/b9rdbDvGsm
— Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) February 29, 2016
They mentioned pho on #oscars. First Asian reference. Diversity is more than black and white
— Mi-Jung Lee (@ctvmijunglee) February 29, 2016
A woman wins a creative award - a miracle. Margaret Sixel for editing. #madmaxiskillingit
— Melissa Silverstein (@melsil) February 29, 2016
Shout out to @kohls for making commercials where white people say black actors speeches for them, it's just what this Oscars needed
— Siobhan Thompson (@vornietom) February 29, 2016
Hey, look. A Puerto Rican/ #Latino at the #Oscars. Whoa.
— Tanisha L. Ramirez (@TanishaLove) February 29, 2016
Just a note...racism is not always black and white. We often exclude brown, red, yellow, and all the shades in between. #Oscars
— IG: Thisisnatols (@thisisnatols) February 29, 2016
There have been more droids on the Oscar stage than Latinos or Asians. #oscar
— kelly oxford (@kellyoxford) February 29, 2016
Everyone was just hoping that Kevin Hart screamed, "FUCK YOU!" right?
— Maris Kreizman (@mariskreizman) February 29, 2016
.@theweeknd is here to remind us that "Fifty Shades of Grey" is nominated for an #Oscar while no actors of color are #OscarsSoWhite
— Carolina J. Moreno (@CaritoJuliette) February 29, 2016
"consider five performances: each unique in their whiteness"
— Anne Helen Petersen (@annehelen) February 29, 2016
kohl's is like "ooo what if we put Oscar speeches from black actors into the mouths of little white kids? good idea Greg" #Oscars2016
— Lane Moore (@hellolanemoore) February 29, 2016
"What a wonderful time to be an actor." -guy who just won
— D'Andrea Garner (@heythere_deedee) February 29, 2016
"What a wonderful time to be white. " -my mom being unapologetic
common should have pulled a steve harvey and given it to gaga #oscars
— Johanna Barr (@JohannaBarr) February 29, 2016
Weird how the Academy nominates as many films as it wants for best picture but acting categories stop at 5 white people #OscarsSoWhite
— Amanda Duberman (@AmandaDuberman) February 29, 2016
LET'S NOT PLAY MUSIC OVER IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT RACE OKAY?! #Oscars
— Jane Riegler (@janecat13) February 29, 2016
May we work to ensure newsrooms are more diverse than tonight's Oscars.
— Alexa Ura (@alexazura) February 29, 2016
And the Oscar goes to: the fantasy that 21st century audiences will pay for the sort of high quality journalism that inspired Spotlight.
— Erin Gloria Ryan (@morninggloria) February 29, 2016
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