Oscars Host Amy Schumer 'Did Her Darndest' to Get President Zelenskyy to Appear (Exclusive)

While reflecting on Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, Amy Schumer called out the fact that some of her jokes were not allowed on stage that night.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a virtual appearance during the 2022 Grammy Awards. During a pre-taped appearance that aired on Sunday, Zelenskyy addressed the ongoing war with Russia, asking viewers for support in telling the story of Ukraine’s invasion by Russia. Zelenskyy likened the invasion to a deadly silence threatening to extinguish the dreams and lives of the Ukrainian people, including children.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is speaking out.

Zack Sharf Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will appear at the 64th annual Grammy Awards to give a pre-taped speech amid Russia’s continued invasion of his country, an insider has confirmed to Variety. President Zelenskyy shot the video within the last 48 hours in a bunker in Kyiv.

Oscars, Amy Schumer made a joke about siblings Jake Gyllenhaal and Maggie Gyllenhaal and referenced them as a couple. During her opening monologue, Schumer acknowledged how many couples were attending the 94th Academy Awards.

Wilson Chapman editorBefore the Oscars, Amy Schumer made headlines by revealing that she had pitched a segment in which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would appear via a livestream or pre-recorded video. While walking the red carpet, her Oscar co-host Wanda Sykes revealed she had a very different opinion about Zelenskyy potentially appearing.“I think he’s very busy right now,” Sykes told Variety senior culture and events editor Marc Malkin on Variety On the Carpet presented by DIRECTV.

It sounds like Sean Penn is willing to say goodbye to his Oscar awards if Ukraine’s president did not receive an invite to this year’s ceremony.

Oscars. This year, the Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, with a huge guest list of the world's biggest stars. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, 27 March, commencing at 8pm Eastern Time.

Sean Penn is supporting Amy Schumer’s idea of having Ukraine President Zelenskyy featured during Sunday’s Oscars.

Though some in the entertainment world may feel that politics don’t belong on the silver screen (or in its cultural vicinity), Sean Penn, 61, couldn’t disagree more. In a new interview with CNN’s Jeff Acosta, Sean tuned in from on the ground in Ukraine and discussed his thoughts about a rumored video appearance by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, sharing: “There is nothing greater that the Academy Awards could do than give him the opportunity to talk to us.”

There’s a flashback scene in Amy Schumer’s new Hulu comedy “Life & Beth”, in which the child actress playing the younger version of Schumer’s character, Beth, is revealed to have had trichotillomania, a rare genetic disorder that creates an irresistible urge to pull one’s own hair out.

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher's efforts to help Ukraine have not gone unnoticed. Kunis and Kutcher got a call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, personally thanking the couple for their GoFundMe campaign, which has raised nearly $35 million to help those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Earlier this month, the couple launched the campaign — in conjunction with Airbnb and FlexPort.org — with a goal of raising $30 million to help those affected by the conflict in Ukraine.

Zack Sharf Amy Schumer is co-hosting the 94th Academy Awards with Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes, and she’s revealed at least one idea she planned for the upcoming ceremony: having Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy appear during the ceremony via satellite or a pre-taped video segment. The 2022 Oscars will take place while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, and many celebrities have raises millions of dollars for Ukrainian aid.“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,’” Schumer told Drew Barrymore on an upcoming episode of her eponymous daytime talk snow (via ET Canada).

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is publicly recognizing Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher’s fight to help Ukraine as the Russian attacks continue. “@aplusk & Mila Kunis were among the first to respond to our grief. They have already raised $35 million & are sending it to @flexport & @Airbnb to help [Ukrainian] refugees. Grateful for their support. Impressed by their determination. They inspire the world. #StandWithUkraine,” President Zelenskyy tweeted on March 20.

Amy Schumer has claimed that Oscars producers turned down her idea for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to appear via video link at the ceremony.The comedian is set to host next weekend’s ceremony alongside Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall, and noted how there are “so many eyes on the Oscars” that it would be an opportunity to highlight the Russian-Ukrainian war.Russia sent military forces into Ukraine on February 24, and The United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights estimates that the conflict has claimed 1,900 civilian casualties between that date and March 15. The UN (via the BBC) has also estimated that there are around 1.85million internally displaced people within Ukraine.Zelensky has also appeared via video link to appeal to a number of governments over the past few weeks, including the UK Parliament and the US Congress.Speaking on The Drew Barrymore Show, Schumer explained how she wanted to use the Oscars to put a spotlight on serious issues.“I actually pitched, I wanted to find a way to have Zelensky satellite in or make a tape or something just because there are so many eyes on the Oscars,” she said (via Yahoo).

Oscars co-host Amy Schumer revealed that her request to have Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky address the star-studded gathering was rejected. 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.

Amy Schumer pitched having Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appear remotely during the Oscars. The 2022 Oscars co-host said during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show that she wants her script to entertain but also address issues that are going on in the world right now. "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 said.