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Chris Rock just gave one of the best openings in Oscars history and hit Hollywood hard
(Kevin Winter/Getty)
Chris Rock at the 88th Academy Awards.
One of the biggest questions entering Oscar night was how host Chris Rock would handle one of the major controversies surrounding the awards: the lack of diversity in the industry, highlighted by the fact that the acting categories included only white nominees for the second straight year.
Well, Rock took it head-on, and he delivered one of the best opening monologues in Academy Awards history.
"I counted at least 15 black people on that montage," Rock said as he came on the stage after footage of 2015's big movies was shown.
He followed that by welcoming everyone to the 88th Academy Awards, "also known as the White People's Choice Awards," Rock said.
Rock said he thought about quitting the hosting gig but figured the show wouldn't be canceled because of him, and he wasn't going to "lose another job to Kevin Hart."
But then with a great mix of comedy and sobering reality of the kind that defines his best stand-up, Rock mentioned that it was not the first year the Oscars had a lack of diversity. But in past decades, like the 1960s, he said, black people had bigger issues to deal with, like being "raped and lynched."
(ABC)
"When your grandmother is swinging from a tree, you're not worried about who wins best short film," the host said in one of his boldest lines.
Rock then turned his attention toward the people who decided to boycott this year's Oscars, like Spike Lee, Al Sharpton, and Jada Pinkett Smith.
He then delivered his best joke of the opening.
"Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna's panties: I wasn't invited," Rock said.
The comedian then brought it home with the question: Is Hollywood racist? He said Hollywood was not "burning-crosses racist" but was instead like being in a sorority in which black people were told, "We like you, Rhonda, but you're not a Kappa."
"Black people want the same opportunities, and that's it," he added. "Leo gets great parts every year, but what about the black actors?
"Jamie Foxx was so good in 'Ray' they went to the hospital and unplugged the real Ray Charles because we can't have two of the same guy," Rock said.
It certainly seems Rock won't be shy in addressing the elephant in the room, and his opening will not be forgotten anytime soon.
Watch his opening monologue:
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