Key Oscars moments as snubbed Chalamet becomes butt of jokes

March 16, 2026

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony featured heightened security due to the US-Israel conflict with Iran, with SWAT vehicles, fencing, and multiple security checkpoints surrounding Hollywood's Dolby Theatre. Host Conan O'Brien made Timothée Chalamet a recurring target of jokes after the actor's recent comments dismissing ballet and opera, though Chalamet lost the best actor award to Michael B. Jordan.

Who is affected

Timothée Chalamet (lost best actor award and was subject of host's jokes)
Michael B. Jordan (won best actor)
Conan O'Brien (host)
Kylie Jenner (Chalamet's girlfriend, shown on camera)
Pasha Talankin (won documentary feature film)
Winners of The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva (tied for best short action film)
Musicians and songwriters behind "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters (won best original song, speech cut off)
Mark Sonnenblick (songwriter)
Maggie Kang (filmmaker/director)
Autumn Durald Arkapaw (first woman to win cinematography award)
Amy Madigan (won best supporting actress for Weapons)
Zach Cregger (writer-director of Weapons)
Ceremony attendees and media at the Dolby Theatre and Loews Hotel
Opera and ballet communities (referenced in O'Brien's jokes)

What action is being taken

Los Angeles authorities are enhancing security with layered perimeters, traffic management plans, visible police presence, SWAT vehicles, fencing, metal detectors, and police dogs
Street closures are snarling the area to accommodate the red carpet
Academy librarians are fact-checking details from the night in the winners room
Oscar winners are sharing additional thoughts backstage after being cut off during their speeches

Why it matters

The 98th Academy Awards represents significant milestones in film industry recognition, particularly with historic firsts including the first K-pop song honored by the Academy and the first woman winning the cinematography award. The heightened security measures reflect how global geopolitical conflicts—specifically the US-Israel war with Iran—are impacting major cultural events in Los Angeles. The rare tie in the short action film category adds to the ceremony's nearly 100-year history where such occurrences have only happened a handful of times. These moments demonstrate both the evolving diversity of recognition in cinema and the real-world security concerns affecting public gatherings.

What's next

Amy Madigan indicated that writer-director Zach Cregger has suggested a prequel to Weapons "is going to happen," though she cautioned that "nothing's real till it is" given how long projects take in the film business.

Read full article from source: BBC