Mel Gibson said Wakanda forever': the best Oscars quotes and jokes
Tina Fey
“Good evening, and welcome to the one millionth Academy Awards. We are not your hosts — but we’re gonna stand here a little too long so that the people who get USA Today tomorrow will think that we hosted.”
Tina Fey kicks off proceedings
Maya Rudolph
“There’s no host tonight. There won’t be a popular movie category. And Mexico is not paying for the wall.”
Maya Rudolph drops a few truth bombs at the opening of the ceremony
Smooches, shocks and funny bunnies: the Oscars 2019 – in pictures
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Queen Latifah
“It’s not easy being a queen.”
Queen Latifah on The Favourite, during one of a number of sections in which famous people discussed the Oscar-nominated films
Trevor Noah
“Even backstage, Mel Gibson came up to me and said: ‘Wakanda forever.’ He said another word after that, but the ‘Wakanda forever’ part was nice.”
Trevor Noah alludes to Gibson’s notorious racist rant
Spike Lee
“Do not turn that motherfucking clock on!”
Spike Lee to the Oscars producers, as he removed a sheet of A4 from his pocket and started reading his speech
Rami Malek
“I am the son of immigrants from Egypt. I’m a first-generation American. Part of my story is being written right now.”
Rami Malek on the parallels between him and Freddie Mercury, who he acted in the role that netted him the award for best actor
‘My story is being written right now’ … best actor winner Rami Malek. Photograph: Matt Sayles/AFP/Getty Images
Rayka Zehtabchi
“I’m not crying because I’m on my period – I can’t believe a film about menstruation just won an Oscar.”
Director Rayka Zehtabchi celebrates her win for her best short documentary, Period. End of Sentence
Spike Lee
“Every time somebody’s driving somebody, I lose.”
Spike Lee, backstage, on losing out to Green Book this year – and Driving Miss Daisy back in 1990
Domee Shi
“To all the nerdy girls who hide behind your sketchbooks, don’t be afraid to share your stories with the world.”
Pixar’s Domee Shi, accepting the best animated short award for Bao
Alfonso Cuarón
“Being here doesn’t get old”
Roma director Alfonso Cuarón, the first person ever to win best director and best cinematography for the same film. He previously won the best director award for Gravity
‘It’s not about winning’ … Lady Gaga. Photograph: Christopher Polk/Rex/Shutterstock
Olivia Colman
“It’s genuinely quite stressful. This is hilarious – I’ve got an Oscar!”
Olivia Colman charms the audience, winning best actress for The Favourite
Mike Myers and Dana Carvey
“Don’t hurl, because if you honk, I’ll spew.”
“And if you spew, I’ll blow chunks.”
Mike Myers and Dana Carvey of Wayne’s World introduce Bohemian Rhapsody
Lady Gaga
“This is hard work, I’ve worked hard for a long time and it’s not about winning, but what it’s about is not giving up. If you have a dream, fight for it.”
Lady Gaga tearfully accepts the award for best song
John Lewis
“I can bear witness that the portrait painted of that time and place in our history is very real. It’s seared in my memory, black men and women, our brothers and sisters, treated as second-class citizens, threatened for raising their families or earning a living, beaten and sometimes killed for the crime of trying to live a life with dignity. Our nation bears the scars of that time, as do I.”
Civil rights hero and Georgia congressman John Lewis introducing Green Book