Disney to Change How Oscars Acceptance Speeches Work After 2026 Controversies

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One of the most talked-about moments from the 98th Academy Awards was the acceptance speeches. People weren’t upset just because of what the winners said, but also because two filmmakers were stopped mid-speech. Host Conan O’Brien even made a joke about it, saying, “We’re running out of time, but it’s funny to cut someone off while they’re still talking! Now, let’s move on!”

The reaction to recent events has been serious, and Disney is now considering changes to how acceptance speeches are managed at the Oscars.

A Controversial Cut-Off

Rob Mills, a Disney television executive, spoke with Variety about Sunday night’s show. He mentioned that when planning for next year, they’ll review how they manage acceptance speeches. Similar to the Oscars, where speeches can involve one or multiple people, they’ll consider limiting the number of speakers to stay within a specific time limit. They might designate just one person to deliver the acceptance speech.

As a huge movie fan, I always think of the Oscars as the most important night for Hollywood. Even though fewer people are watching awards shows these days, the Oscars still feel like the standard everyone in the industry aims for. This year, something really unusual happened – there was a tie in the Best Live Action Short category! It was a bit frustrating, though, because one of the winning directors, Alexandre Singh, was cut off mid-thank you speech – he literally just said ‘And thank you…’ before the music started! It felt like a really awkward moment, and a bit unfair to him and his team.

Kpop Demon Hunters‘ Songwriters Played Offstage

The most talked-about short acceptance speech at the Oscars was for the Netflix film Kpop Demon Hunters, which won Best Original Song. Many viewers felt songwriter Yu Han Lee was cut off mid-“thank you” by the orchestra, and the audience reportedly responded with boos.

Although the songwriting team from Kpop Demon Hunters managed to wrap up their comments behind the scenes, many online viewers thought the interruption was rude. Broadcast producers are now considering how to honor award winners’ acceptance speeches while still staying on time.

Glenn Weiss, the show’s executive producer, proposed a potential solution for handling acceptance speeches: continuing them backstage and sharing the rest of the speech online, perhaps through social media. He explained that they are considering all options to find the most graceful way to manage time constraints, acknowledging how difficult it is to cut someone off during their one moment to shine.

Looking further ahead, the upcoming platform change may also affect how speech time is managed.

The Future of the Oscars

ABC, which is owned by Disney, has been the home of the Oscars broadcast since 1976. But starting in 2029, the Academy Awards will move to YouTube. This means any adjustments Disney makes to how Oscar acceptance speeches are handled will only apply to the next two ceremonies.

Switching the Oscars to YouTube gives the Academy more control and freedom. They won’t be bound by the usual time constraints and rules of traditional TV. While winners probably won’t get endless time to speak, there’s potential for more flexibility in how the show is presented.

Disney and the Academy are still figuring out how to handle acceptance speeches. According to producer Mills, they’re searching for the best way to do it and are giving the issue careful consideration. As the Oscars change, finding the right balance between the demands of a live broadcast and meaningful moments for both winners and viewers will continue to be a key challenge.

How do you think Disney should handle Oscar acceptance speeches? Sound off in the comments!

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2026-03-17 23:59