Posted on 03/03/2014 7:20:45 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Actor Jared Leto expressed his support for protesters in Ukraine and Venezuela during his acceptance speech for the Best Supporting Actor award at the Oscars on Sunday, making him the first celebrity at the event to acknowledge the two major events dominating world news right now.
To all the dreamers out there around the world watching this tonight, in places like the Ukraine and Venezuela, I want to say we are here, and as you struggle to make your dreams happen, to live the impossible, were thinking of you tonight, Leto said.
In the press room backstage after accepting his award, Leto explained his decision to comment on Ukraine and Venezuela.
Number one, because its important to me, Leto said.
Number two, because I think its appropriate to the material, to the story, to the film. And number three, because you have an opportunity when you stand on this stage. You can make it about yourself or you can hold up a mirror and shine a light, and thats what I chose to do tonight. I mean, because of Thirty Seconds to Mars, because Im in a band, how many people are here from outside of the of the USA? Quite a few of you. Okay. Good. Im at home then. But I feel at home all over the world. And you know, for me, these global issues impact us in a really direct way.
We have a show in the Ukraine in a couple of weeks, Leto said. We have a show in Thailand in a few weeks. We had a show in Venezuela in the works. So, these things, social unrest, you know, social issues like this affect us in a really immediate way.
(Excerpt) Read more at buzzfeed.com ...
What a moving display of humanitarian concern from a sun drenched and worshiped celebrity. No doubt that it was not just Ukrainians and Venezuelans that were brought to tears. It was truly a special after party that boasted the presence of Jared Leto.
I have no idea who this person is, what they have done and why what he has to say matters to anyone..........
Mr. Leto should stick to criticizing enemies of Obama or he could be endangering his status as Hoper and Changer.
In 1971, Bossier City, Louisiana, there was a teenage girl who was pregnant with her second child. She was a high school dropout and a single mom, but somehow she managed to make a better life for herself and her children. She encouraged her kids to be creative, to work hard and to do something special. That girl is my mother and shes here tonight. And I just want to say, I love you, Mom. Thank you for teaching me to dream. To my brother, Shannon, the best big brother in the world, youre a true artist. Thank you so much for sharing this insane and amazing adventure that is 30 Seconds to Mars, and for being my best friend. I love you. Thank you.
RE: He needs to be careful who he supports. Those folks in Venezuela do not have OOAP (Official Obama-Approved Protester) certification
And I think he has made an enemy out of at least one Oscar winner - - Sean Penn.
I think he won a “Polly” at the Political Science Awards last night, for ‘Best Supporting Leftist Blather’...
...or something...
Number one, because its important to me, Leto said.
Sounds like just another self-important Hollywierdo.
He is in the history books for sure. Oscar winner will be mentioned on all his stuff from now on. His future Obituary just got more interesting. He gave a great speech but not nearly as good as Matthew or the girl from 12 years a slave. Some people complaining about Cate Blanchett thanking Woody Allen are ridiculous. Every actor last night thanked their director.
It wasn’t leftist. In fact it was very conservative but you just like to bitch as usual.
The protesters in Venezuela sent out a twitter campaign begging Oscar speakers to acknowledge their plight. The non cable station that has carried the Oscars for years suddenly reported they didn’t have a license to carry it, but I’m sure that was a coincidence.
He made up for it, though, by mouthing the usual pro-gay marriage pablum at the end of his speech.
And Sean Penn has a mean hook - just ask some photographers!
Yeah. He’s a regular Reagan republican.
I'm sure the Ukrainians and Venezuelans were thrilled to know this.
He is one of the closest ones for sure.
Yeah, I agree. This was the one thing that bothered me about his speech. The reference to “who they are” and “who they love” is the standard leftist claptrap about homosexuality (also used by John Kerry), which ignores the environmental factors that contribute to homosexuality.
I have a feeling he doesn't really understand what's happening in Venezuela. He may have thought it was a hip thing to say.
When a person is ‘x’ light-years from a given point, it is somewhat silly to argue that he is appreciably closer to it than someone else who is ‘x+0.1’ light-years from the same point.
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