Was Adam Sandler’s sweatshirt a dig at Zelenskyy? How political were the Oscars?

Hollywood’s biggest night — the Oscars — has wrapped up and it was a night of style, elegance and many historical firsts.

However, what was particularly significant at this year’s Academy Awards was the lack of politics — there were very few references to politics, especially the upheaval in the world after the ugly spat that broke out at the Oval Office between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The non-political tone at the Oscars is a stark contrast to last week’s 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards during which Hollywood legend Jane Fonda used her acceptance speech for the Life Achievement Award to express how the empathy actors use in their craft should inform their response to politics.

Let’s take a better look at the top political moments from the Oscars.

Sandler’s ‘Zelenskyy moment’ at the Oscars

Besides awarding excellence in movie-making, the Oscars are known for creating fashion moments. Celebrities put their best foot forward on the red carpet, in designer clothes. However, this year, Adam Sandler, one of Hollywood’s funniest men, chose a different route.

The 58-year-old made a surprise appearance at the 97th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, where he appeared in his signature style: a hoodie and basketball shorts!

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Oscars host Conan O’Brien after making his opening speech, gave the actor a shout-out and the camera panned to him in the audience. “You’re dressed well, Adam,” O’Brien said. With all eyes on him, Sandler responded, “Conan, what’s up? My brother, what’s going on, man?”

“Adam, what are you wearing?” Conan asked Sandler, who was wearing a bright blue oversized Aviator Nation hoodie and dark blue Adidas basketball shorts with black detailing.

"Nobody even thought about what I was wearing until you brought it up!"

Adam Sandler saw his way out of the #Oscars after host Conan O'Brien gave him a hard time about his choice of attire. https://t.co/nl9CxOviL4 pic.twitter.com/qktdnGr7lI

— ABC News (@ABC) March 3, 2025

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Sandler then reacted dramatically, saying, “Nobody even thought about what I was wearing until you brought it up.” O’Brien, in response, noted that he’s “dressed like a guy playing video poker at 2 am”.

The actor further added, “I like the way I look because I’m a good person. I don’t care about what I wear or what I don’t wear. Did my snazzy gym shorts and fluffy sweatshirt offend you so much that you had to mock me in front of my peers?”

Many believe the scenes between Sandler and O’Brien at the Oscars were referencing the spat that broke out at the Oval Office in the White House between Trump and Zelenskyy. At the contentious meeting on Friday (February 28), the Ukrainian president was mocked by a reporter for not wearing a suit .

One user on social media noted, “I haven’t seen a single Oscar-nominated movie (as per usual) but I did look at the opening of the 97th Academy Awards just out of curiosity. Conan O’Brien did well and Adam Sandler did a spoof of the Trump-Zelenskyy Oval Office showdown. That’s enough for me. Tuning out now!”

Others also made links between Sandler and Zelenskyy on social media platform X.

Adam Sandler segment was in reference to being underdressed for the occasion. A dig at Trump and Vance for the comments in relation to Zelensky not wearing a suit ?#Oscars #Oscars2025 pic.twitter.com/YSVZBLmcvf

— Priyank (@dypriyank) March 3, 2025

was the adam sandler bit mocking the zelensky "dont you own a suit" question or am i delulu #Oscars2025

— powered by coffee ☕🏳️‍🌈 (@justmypipedream) March 3, 2025

Daryl Hannah’s Ukraine salute

Besides the Sandler incident, the Ukraine war did feature at the Oscars. When Kill Bill star Daryl Hannah took to the stage to present the award for best film editing, she started out her segment, by saying ‘Slava Ukraini’. The phrase translates to ‘Glory to Ukraine.’

Hannah held up her two fingers in a peace sign as she voiced her support for the war-torn country. The 64-year-old received applause for her stance which comes just days after President Donald Trump made headlines over a heated clash with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.

Earlier, Conclave writer Peter Straughan also showed his support for Ukraine with a Ukrainian flag pin accent on his tuxedo. “Just to say, let’s not turn our backs on Ukraine,” he told Variety.

The team behind best documentary nominee Porcelain War, the story of Ukrainian artists who trade their paintbrushes for guns to fight against the Russian invasion, also sported Ukrainian flag pins.

Conan O’Brien’s Anora dig at Trump

While the host refrained from alluding to politics during his Oscar monologue, Conan O’Brien did land a jab at US President Donald Trump. Three hours into the show, O’Brien used multiple Oscar winner Anora — a film about a sex worker getting married to the son of a Russian oligarch — to take a swipe at Trump and his ties with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

“You know, Anora is having a good night,” O’Brien said. “That’s great news; two wins already. I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian.”

Conan O'Brien calling out Trump in this Oscars joke

"Anora is having a good night. Two wins already. I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian." pic.twitter.com/gvzPUkioDf

— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) March 3, 2025

The comedian’s statement was first received with shock from the crowd, which then broke out into applause and cheers.

People on social media applauded the Oscar host for this dig, with some writing, “he killed that” to others saying, “loved this line.”

Zoe Saldana aims at Trump

When Zoe Saldana walked up the stage to accept the award for best supporting actress in Emilia Pérez, she made sure that she made it count. In her acceptance speech, she opened up about being a “proud child of immigrant parents,” which appeared to be a slight dig at Trump’s immigration policies.

“My grandmother came to this country in 1961. I am a proud child of immigrant parents. With dreams and dignity and hard working hands,” Saldana said. “And I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award. And I know I will not be the last,” Saldana said.

Palestine and Gaza find a mention at the Oscars

However, the Ukraine war war wasn’t the only political moment of the night. Perhaps, the most political moment arrived when the award for best documentary went to No Other Land, which explores Israel’s demolition of Palestinian homes in the southern West Bank.

During his acceptance speech, Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist and one of the filmmakers, called “on the world to take serious actions to stop the injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people.”

Yuval Abraham, an Israeli journalist who directed the film with Adra, said he believed there was a political solution to the conflict that includes national rights “for both of our people.” “And I have to say, as I am here, the foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path,” he said.

Actor Guy Pearce, who was nominated for his role in The Brutalist, also expressed solidarity for Palestine by wearing a “Free Palestine” pin on his suit lapel. Speaking at the event, Pearce said, “I’m always trying to raise awareness for Palestine because it needs as much support as possible.”

This year’s Oscars was, in fact, a stark contrast to past award shows. Despite having one of the longest run times, the show didn’t have a single mention of Donald Trump, making him the proverbial elephant in the room.

With inputs from agencies