Trending Now - Oscars 2023: Anticipation Amidst Political Controversies

WHO:

President Trump, Natalie Portman, Wunmi Mosaku, Ethan Hawke, Guillermo del Toro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Bill Maher, Lucas Shaw, Lisa Mateo, Raymond Arroyo, Dennis Quaid, Amanda Seyfried, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon, Ethan Hawke, Anthony Hopkins, Joaquin Phoenix, Bradley Cooper

Academy Awards, Dolby Theater, Hollywood, UC Berkeley Citrin Center for Public Opinion Research, Politico

WHAT:

The 98th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 15th, 2026.

Amanda Seyfried was not nominated for her role in "The Testaments of Anne Lee."

Ethan Hawke is nominated for Best Actor for his role in "Blue Moon."

Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" received nine nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Leonardo DiCaprio was nominated for Best Actor for "One Battle After Another."

A UC Berkeley poll indicated that 48% of Californians believe Hollywood has too much influence on politics, while 47% think Hollywood is too liberal.

Bill Maher criticized the #OscarsSoWhite campaign, stating that Hollywood is not a secret cabal of racists but rather "terrified of looking like racists."

WHERE:

The Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival was held in January 2026.

WHEN:

The 98th Academy Awards are on March 15th, 2026.

The nominations for the 2026 Academy Awards were announced in January 2026.

Ethan Hawke made comments in January 2026 during the Sundance Film Festival.

Bill Maher made his comments on March 13th, 2026.

WHY:

Many nominees have expressed concerns about the political influence of Hollywood and the current political climate under President Trump.

Seyfried stated that winning an Oscar is not necessary, but a nomination is beneficial for an actor's career.

HOW:

The Academy has implemented inclusion standards requiring Best Picture contenders to feature underrepresented groups in at least 30% of the film's crew.

(UPDATED March 15, 2026 15:01 UTC)

Today marks the 98th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, where nominees like Ethan Hawke for Best Actor in "Blue Moon" and Leonardo DiCaprio for "One Battle After Another" are vying for top honors. Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" leads the pack with nine nominations, including Best Picture, while Amanda Seyfried expressed disappointment over not receiving a nomination for her role in "The Testaments of Anne Lee." In the lead-up to the ceremony, Bill Maher criticized the #OscarsSoWhite campaign, asserting that Hollywood is not a secret cabal of racists but rather fearful of appearing as such, reflecting ongoing concerns about the industry's political influence under President Trump.