Conan O’Brien made history at the 2025 Oscars as he took to the stage to host the prestigious event – but his opening monologue didn’t go down too well with fans
Oscars host Conan O’Brien had viewers squirming in their seats within moments of hosting the 2025 Academy Awards.
The Academy Awards kicked off with a clip from Demi Moore’s movie ‘The Substance’, where her character takes a drug to spawn a younger self. But instead of Margaret Qualley popping out, it was O’Brien making his grand entrance.
He slithered out of Moore’s back, suited and booted for the occasion but missing a shoe, which led him to dive back in on a comical hunt for it. After resurfacing, he strutted onto the Oscars stage to begin his monologue, leaving viewers at home unable to shake off the body horror gag.
They flocked to X, the new Twitter, to express their disgust at the sight. One viewer wrote: “Ok i HATE this #TheSubstance sequence they did with Conan at #TheOscars what the hell? ? ?” Another chimed in: “people who didn’t watch the substance watching conan o’brien come out of demi moore.”
Yet, not everyone was put off; one fan found it a riot, commenting: “Conan O’Brien is already 10x better than Jimmy Kimmel.”
When O’Brien finally hit the stage, he exchanged an ‘awkward’ glance with Moore before doubling down on the gag, claiming he’d lost his keys and needed another rummage through her character’s skin.
It is no surprise he’s been given the honour of hosting the biggest night in Hollywood, in fact, it’s quite baffling it hasn’t happened sooner given the talent that has graced the Academy’s stage. With names like Jimmy Kimmel who’s taken up the Oscars hosting gig four times, O’Brien had some big shoes to fill to stand out in the star-studded history of presenters.
PR expert Grayce McCormick from Lightfinder Public Relations said: “Conan O’Brien is a shrewd choice for the Oscars, bringing a mix of self-aware industry humor and quick-witted charm that resonates well in a room full of Hollywood’s elite.
“Unlike some hosts who rely on shock value or safe, predictable jokes, Conan understands how to balance satire with warmth-essential for a show that needs both reverence and irreverence to keep audiences engaged.
“His appointment signals the Academy’s desire for a host who can critique the industry without alienating the crowd, leaning into clever, well-crafted humor rather than controversy for controversy’s sake.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
