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Topics: Celebrity, US News, Oscars, Politics, Donald Trump, World News, TV And Film
The Academy Awards have long been famed for their strict rules on what presenters, winners and hosts can and cannot say whilst live.
Naturally, therefore, millions of spectators watching from home were utterly blindsided by a remark that the show's frontman Conan O'Brien made about the ongoing tensions between Europe and the US.
The comment comes just days after the bombshell interview between American president Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy went viral.
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On Friday night, the two world leaders butted heads over Vladimir Putin's invasion of the Eastern European country, with many subsequently slamming both Trump and his vice president, JD Vance, for their treatment of the Ukrainian leader, and their apparent favour of Putin.
The sensitivity of the subject matter at hand meant that film and TV buffs were utterly thrown off when Conan O'Brien alluded to the fiery row - as well as 78-year-old Trump's controversial stance - during tonight's Oscars (2 Mar).
Speaking on the show, the 61-year-old comedian's thinly veiled joke discussed the importance of 'standing up to powerful a powerful Russian'.
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Discussing the success of gritty Oscar-nominated blockbuster Anora - which tells the story of a Brooklyn sex worker who meets and marries the son of an Russian oligarch - O'Brien began by stating: "Anora is having a good night."
The comic continued: "That's great news. Two wins already.
"I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian."
Seconds later, the live studio audience erupted into cheers and applause, seemingly indicating the predominant support of O'Brien's statement, and his poking fun at the Republican leader.
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The presenter also received mass support online.
Taking to social media, one gushed: "That Trump-Russia Anora joke was amazing. That's comedic timing!"
Another wrote: "Conan still the absolute best."
"Perfect #maga's about to have a meltdown," a third continued.
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