Oscars 2022: How Celebrities Honored And Supported Ukraine During 94th Annual Academy Awards

In celebration and acknowledgment of films that filled out the year 2022 despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, celebrities gathered for Sunday's Academy Awards telecast in Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. A packed crowd of spectators joined the annual prestigious and most awaited awards night.

Several stars marched down the Oscars 2022 red carpet with moments that featured their support for Ukraine, continuing its tradition of allowing the display of the world's political and social issues, expressing unity with Ukrainians. The Academy Awards also had a moment of silence for "the people of Ukraine" during the telecast.

Jason Momoa

The awards night presenter and "Dune" actor included a blue and yellow touch in his outfit; a scarf tucked into his suit, which appeared to be a delicate tribute to the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Pedro Almodóvar

The "Parallel Mothers" director Almodóvar walked down the red carpet in his suit with a blue ribbon and the words, "#WithRefugees," etched on his lapel. The nominee for best original song, Diane Warren, Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung, and honorary Oscar winner Tyler Perry could also be seen wearing the same ribbon.

Jamie Lee Curtis

The actress, writer and 94th Academy Awards presenter also honored Ukraine with her ensemble by wearing a blue ribbon tied around her finger. "It's an incredibly important moment, given what's happening in Ukraine, the displacement of human beings in the world, the exodus of human beings," Curtis told the Associated Press. She also called the Russia-Ukraine conflict "a crucial story for our time right now." She mentioned Oscar-nominated films such as "Flee" and "Encanto" as films with themes that displayed human displacement.

Ben Proudfoot

"The Queen of Basketball" director Proudfoot addressed the war during his acceptance speech for best short documentary, leaving a message to United States President Joe Biden to "bring Brittney Griner home." Griner is a professional women's basketball player who was reportedly detained at a Moscow-area airport for allegedly carrying vape cartridges containing hashish oil. She is currently being held in Russia.

Reba McEntire

After her stunning performance of Diane Warren's "Somehow You Do" from "Four Good Days," a title card expressing the Oscars' support for Ukraine appeared, "We ask you to support Ukraine in any way you are able. #StandWithUkraine. While film is an important avenue for us to express our humanity in times of conflict, the reality is millions of families in Ukraine need food, medical care, clean water, and emergency services. Resources are scarce, and we—collectively as a global community—can do more."

Amy Schumer

The "Life After Beth" comedian and the night's co-host expressed the desire to invite Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to be featured on the Academy's telecast.

Will Packer

During a press conference ahead of Sunday's Oscars, producer Packer did not confirm Zelensky's involvement. Still, he confirmed that the Academy would show full support for Ukraine. "It is about fun, it is about revelry. But we are so grateful, I think, as an industry and as a community — we certainly should be — to be able to even put on a night like this. So we certainly are going to have an acknowledgement of the tumultuous times that we're in right now and the people of Ukraine," he told Variety's Marc Malkin.

Mila Kunis

Kunis, born in Ukraine, raised over $35 million for refugee relief in a GoFundMe campaign; the $3 million has been donated by her together with her husband, Ashton Kutcher. "Recently, global events have left many of us feeling gutted," Kunis stated in her introduction. "Yet, when you witness the strength and dignity of those facing such devastation, it's impossible to not be moved by their resilience. One cannot help but be in all of those who find strength to keep fighting through unimaginable darkness."

Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw

The couple donated $1 million to support humanitarian relief in Ukraine. Through their Hearthland Foundation, Spielberg and Capshaw have given the money to several organizations in and near Ukraine.

Sean Penn

The Oscar-winning actor talked about the war before the ceremony; he told CNN's Jim Acosta that he would "smelt [my awards] in public," if Ukrainian president Zelensky did not speak during the Academy Awards. Penn, who won Academy Awards best actor for "Mystic River" in 2004 and "Milk" in 2009, said that "there is nothing greater that the Academy Awards could do than to give [Zelenskyy] an opportunity to talk to all of us." He continued, an omission to do so would be "the most obscene moment in Hollywood history."