Oscars host and actress Amy Schumer is having to clarify the circumstances leading to her Kirsten Dunst dig following growing disapproval expressed by critics concerning the exchange. Schumer joined Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall as the face of this year's 94th annual Academy Awards show. The Snatched actress is best known for her comedic roles and outgoing personality, but her attempts at humor have recently landed her in some hot water.
During the Oscars, Schumer did a quick bit, engaging with members of the crowd. She approached Dunst and accused the fellow actress of being a "seat filler," someone who is merely in attendance to make the crowd look full. Schumer seemingly ignored Dunst and moved on to flatter Jesse Plemons by bringing up his performance in Power of the Dog, stating how much she loved it. However, after Plemons points out that Dunst is his wife, Schumer jokingly appears shocked and asked if he was referring to the "seat filler."
Many viewers were offended by the apparent disrespect Schumer showed toward Dunst during the encounter. According to Fox News, the growing backlash caused such a commotion that Schumer had to take to social media in an attempt to explain the situation and calm angry opposition members. As it turns out, the entire skit was planned, and Dunst had been aware of the joke prior to the performance. Read below to see Schumer's response to the criticism which she addressed in her Instagram story.
"Hey I appreciate the love for Kirsten Dunst. I love her too! That was a choreographed bit she was in on. Wouldn’t disrespect that queen like that."
Schumer assured viewers that everything was planned and that she would never insult Dunst. Although many seemed to have missed the joke, it wasn't the only time during the Oscars that a comedian's comments caused controversy. Chris Rock made a joke directed toward Will Smith's wife that resulted in a physical confrontation between the two actors. Similar to the Schumer incident, viewers were unsure whether it had been scripted or not. However, Smith's altercation proved to be real and almost resulted in legal action against the actor.
It has been reported that Rock didn't know of Jada Pinkett Smith's ailment. The unintentionally, insensitive joke and the backlash surrounding Schumer's apparent treatment of Dunst are just a few examples of difficulties facing comedians today. Social media and increased awareness of sensitive topics have created barriers that many comics in the past did not have to consider. Unfortunately, these "funny" moments at the Oscars fell short of their intentions and left the audience confused rather than in laughter.
Source: Fox News
