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Despite their intentions to stay apolitical, the night was riddled with moments that exposed the industry's hypocrisy and tendency toward virtue signaling. One of the most glaring instances was a speech that broke the usual trend of wrapping up early to maximize charitable donations. Instead, the speaker chose to use her platform for political messaging, including phrases like "Go Birds" and "Free Palestine," disregarding ongoing political conflicts and the broader context.
This display of politicization was seen as emblematic of Hollywood's obsession with pushing specific narratives while ignoring important issues happening in the real world. Such moments have become predictable, almost formulaic, in award ceremonies.