1) Patricia Arquette Demands Equal Pay for Women
The Best Supporting Actress winner for Boyhood took advantage of her big moment to take a stand for girls everywhere. An impassioned Patricia beautifully said, "To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else's equal rights, it's our time to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women in the United States of America." Preach, sister!
Patricia had everyone fangirling for her. But the best reactions came from Meryl Streep and seatmate Jennifer Lopez. The powerful speech compelled Meryl to jump out of her chair. She pointed at the stage three times while saying, "Yes. Yes. YES," in approval. JLo also felt the jolt of feminism run through her bones. The singer let out a, "Whoa!" before leaning forward and applauding enthusiastically.
!['The Oscars': The Imitation Game Wins Best Adapted Screenplay]()
2) Graham Moore Gives Hope to Kids Suffering From Depression
The screenwriter who won Best Adapted Screenplay for The Imitation Game started out his speech making everyone laugh. "Thank you so much to the Academy and to O-prah...for this." Winning an Oscar is one thing, but receiving it from the one and only Oprah Winfrey...now that's just too much. But things turned to a serious note when Graham confessed to feeling so alone as a teen that he attempted suicide.
Graham said, "When I was 16 years old, I tried to kill myself because I felt weird and I felt different and I felt like I did not belong. And now I'm standing here, so I would like this moment to be for that kid out there who feels like she's weird or she's different or she doesn't fit in anywhere. Yes, you do. I promise you do. You do. Stay weird. Stay different. And then when it's you're turn and you are standing on this stage, please pass the same message to the next person who comes along. Thank you so much."
Thank you, Graham. We only wish kids like transgender Leelah Alcorn could've lived to hear your speech.
!['The Oscars': John Legend and Common Win a 2015 Oscar]()
3) Common and John Legend Call for an End to Injustice
First of all, how amazing is it to see these two at the Oscars, let alone being honored by the Academy. What an inspiration! After moving stars - grown men! - like David Oyelowo and Chris Pine to tears with their powerful performance of "Glory" from Selma, the fellas took home the Oscar for Best Original Song.
In their speech, they highlighted the fact that basic human rights are still being grossly trampled on today.
Common said, "Recently, John and I got to go to Selma on the same bridge that [Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.] and the people of the Civil Rights Movement marched on 50 years ago. This bridge was once a landmark of a divided nation, but now it's a symbol for change. The spirit of this bridge transcends race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and social status. The spirit of this bridge connects the kid from South Side Chicago dreaming of a better life to those in France standing up for their freedom of expression to the people of Hong Kong protesting for democracy." John chimed in saying, "Nina Simone said, "It's an artist's duty to reflect the times in which we live.' We wrote this song for a film that was based on events that were 50 years ago, but we say that Selma is now because the struggle for justice is right now."
To see the complete list of the 2015 Oscar winners, click here.
The Best Supporting Actress winner for Boyhood took advantage of her big moment to take a stand for girls everywhere. An impassioned Patricia beautifully said, "To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else's equal rights, it's our time to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women in the United States of America." Preach, sister!
Patricia had everyone fangirling for her. But the best reactions came from Meryl Streep and seatmate Jennifer Lopez. The powerful speech compelled Meryl to jump out of her chair. She pointed at the stage three times while saying, "Yes. Yes. YES," in approval. JLo also felt the jolt of feminism run through her bones. The singer let out a, "Whoa!" before leaning forward and applauding enthusiastically.
2) Graham Moore Gives Hope to Kids Suffering From Depression
The screenwriter who won Best Adapted Screenplay for The Imitation Game started out his speech making everyone laugh. "Thank you so much to the Academy and to O-prah...for this." Winning an Oscar is one thing, but receiving it from the one and only Oprah Winfrey...now that's just too much. But things turned to a serious note when Graham confessed to feeling so alone as a teen that he attempted suicide.
Graham said, "When I was 16 years old, I tried to kill myself because I felt weird and I felt different and I felt like I did not belong. And now I'm standing here, so I would like this moment to be for that kid out there who feels like she's weird or she's different or she doesn't fit in anywhere. Yes, you do. I promise you do. You do. Stay weird. Stay different. And then when it's you're turn and you are standing on this stage, please pass the same message to the next person who comes along. Thank you so much."
Thank you, Graham. We only wish kids like transgender Leelah Alcorn could've lived to hear your speech.
3) Common and John Legend Call for an End to Injustice
First of all, how amazing is it to see these two at the Oscars, let alone being honored by the Academy. What an inspiration! After moving stars - grown men! - like David Oyelowo and Chris Pine to tears with their powerful performance of "Glory" from Selma, the fellas took home the Oscar for Best Original Song.
In their speech, they highlighted the fact that basic human rights are still being grossly trampled on today.
Common said, "Recently, John and I got to go to Selma on the same bridge that [Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.] and the people of the Civil Rights Movement marched on 50 years ago. This bridge was once a landmark of a divided nation, but now it's a symbol for change. The spirit of this bridge transcends race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and social status. The spirit of this bridge connects the kid from South Side Chicago dreaming of a better life to those in France standing up for their freedom of expression to the people of Hong Kong protesting for democracy." John chimed in saying, "Nina Simone said, "It's an artist's duty to reflect the times in which we live.' We wrote this song for a film that was based on events that were 50 years ago, but we say that Selma is now because the struggle for justice is right now."
To see the complete list of the 2015 Oscar winners, click here.