Climate change is real: Leo DiCaprio's outstanding speech at Oscars 2016
Most of us think Leonardo DiCapirio should have won an Oscar for his third film What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), in which he played the autistic brother (Arnie) of the titular Gilbert Grape (a role essayed by Johnny Depp). Since then, the wait that turned out to be a long 22-year yearning for that recognition in gold, literally, has been finally vindicated.
Though #LeoAtOscars has been a veritable cottage industry of memes and gifs, creatively channelling out frustration with fun and frolic, the 2016 Best Actor at the Oscars, however, didn't make it into a weepy, sentimental pile of predictable poo as he accepted the award for his role in the Alejandro González Iñárritu-directed The Revenant.
Instead, he turned it into an opportunity for a fiery reminder of what the state of planet Earth is, and how we cannot take it for granted anymore. Leo's Oscar speech must be heard carefully, again and again, because not only is it a nod for Hollywood's experimental critique of America, but also because it's such a brilliant gist of how we have a collective responsibility - through votes, political affiliations, our puny contributions, raising awareness and much more, to turn back the clock from its current catastrophic point.
Thank you to the Academy and the incredible cast & crew of #TheRevenant. #Oscars
— Leonardo DiCaprio (@LeoDiCaprio) February 29, 2016
Twitter was obviously flooded with rave reactions.
Listen to Leonardo Dicaprio on #ClimateChange in his #Oscars speech. Bravado! ..the response it will blow your mind! pic.twitter.com/MQIqnbzESa
— ਗੌਰਵ ਪਾਂਧੀ (@GauravPandhi) February 29, 2016
Leonardo DiCaprio's impassioned speech about climate change at the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/rmCXb2dNnh
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) February 29, 2016"I don't take tonight for granted" - #LeonardoDiCaprio's full #Oscar2016 acceptance speech! - https://t.co/DnfGBGkds8
— MissMalini (@MissMalini) February 29, 2016
Leonardo DiCaprio takes occasion of long overdue Oscar to throw long overdue hollywood spotlight on climate change - good speech.
— Philip Gourevitch (@PGourevitch) February 29, 2016
#Oscars: Leonardo DiCaprio uses acceptance speech to bring attention to climate change https://t.co/KCePDubnVV https://t.co/sKgKTqwWTr
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 29, 2016
Shoutout Leonardo Dicaprio's Oscars speech????????????
— banksy (@thereaIbanksy) February 29, 2016
Shoutout Leonardo Dicaprio's Oscars speech????????????
— banksy (@thereaIbanksy) February 29, 2016