Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been denied the opportunity to speak at the Oscars ceremony for the second year in a row. Despite his hopes of giving a speech remotely during the broadcast of the awards show, the Academy has rejected his request. Zelensky’s appearance at the Berlin Film Festival last month had been virtual, and he had hoped to follow it up with a remote appearance at the 95th Academy Awards this weekend.
Zelensky, who has been praised for his strategic and savvy approach in dealing with international media, made the request following an alarming dip in support for Ukraine amongst the American public. According to a Pew Research Study released in January, just 20% of Americans felt that the United States government should be providing additional assistance to Ukraine. Meanwhile, 26% of the public believed too much aid had been granted to the Eastern European state.
This is not the first time Zelensky has been rejected by the Academy. Last year, his request to speak was also denied. Despite this, the Ukrainian president has become a prominent figure in the global media since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He has appeared on television screens across the globe, including on shows like The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Zelensky’s request to speak at the Oscars ceremony is part of his efforts to boost Ukraine’s image in the international community. However, his request has been denied due to the Academy’s policy of not allowing political speeches during the event. The Oscars have been known to have strict rules regarding speeches during the show, and this year is no different.
While Zelensky will not be speaking at the Oscars ceremony, the event is still set to be a star-studded affair. With Jimmy Kimmel returning as the host, there are sure to be some memorable moments during the broadcast. The 95th Academy Awards are scheduled to take place tonight at 8pm (EDT).