Oscars overshadowed by Hollywood sexual misconduct

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Comedian Jimmy Kimmel launched his return stint as Oscar host on Sunday by immediately confronting this year's elephant in the room – the campaign against sexual misconduct and anger at gender inequality roiling Hollywood in recent months.

As Hollywood's A-listers assembled for their first Academy Awards since the Weinstein sexual abuse scandal rocked the entertainment world and sent shockwaves across other industries across America, Kimmel made no attempt to sweep the issue under the rug.

"We can't let bad behavior slide anymore. The world is watching us. We need to set an example," Kimmel said.

"And the truth is, if we are successful here, if we can work together to stop sexual harassment in the workplace, if we can do that, women will only have to deal with harassment all the time at every other place they go."

Kimmel said Weinstein's downfall following dozens of allegations of sexual harassment and assault "was long overdue," along with the demise of numerous other Tinseltown figures caught up in their own scandals.

The host highlighted the work of the #MeToo and Time's Up campaigns against sexual misconduct and gender inequality, pointing out that only 11 percent of movies are made by women.

"We will always remember this year as the year men screwed up so badly, women started dating fish," he joked, in a reference to the plot of Guillermo del Toro's "The Shape of Water," which leads the night with 13 nominations. Kimmel also quipped that the Oscar statuette was an apt figure for the era.

"Just look at him. Keeps his hands where you can see them. Never says a rude word. And most importantly, no penis at all," he said. "He is literally a statue of limitations."

Source(s): AFP