Oscars co-host Amy Schumer revealed that her request to have Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky address the star-studded gathering was rejected, Independent reports.
According to the report, in a teaser clip for her forthcoming appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show on 24 March, the comedian commented on using the Oscars platform to highlight important global issues – including Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
During the interview, Schumer told host Drew Barrymore that she wanted to have Zelensky speak at the ceremony on 27 March “because there are so many eyes on the Oscars” but her idea was turned down by the organisers.
“I am not afraid to go there,” she added, “but it’s not me producing the Oscars.”
Responding to Barrymore’s question about how she would “handle the Academy Awards at this time” of political turmoil, Schumer acknowledged the “pressure” to be both sensitive and funny.
“I think there is definitely pressure in one way to be like, ‘this is a vacation, let people forget we just want to have this night’ but it is like well we have so many eyes and ears on this show,” she explained.
