The 2024 Oscars may have caused controversy with viewers in record time - as host Jimmy Kimmel kicked off the show with a skit that left some viewers outraged.
In a bold move, Kimmel took center stage with a comedic skit that saw him starring opposite none other than Barbie herself, Margot Robbie.
In an edited scene from the outrageously popular Barbie movie, Kimmel is seen sitting at a bus stop alongside Barbie, as she sheds a tear and calls him "beautiful". Watch the moment below:
However, Kimmel then responds with a quip that he hasn't eaten for three weeks — an off-the-cuff remark that some viewers found anything but funny. In a ceremony that celebrates the best of Hollywood, the joke sparked immediate backlash, with many accusing Kimmel of making light of the serious issue of eating disorders.
As social media erupted with heated debate over the tasteless joke, viewers took to X to air their grievances - check out some of the responses below:
"Not the first joke of the night being about eating disorders," one person wrote, with a second adding: "I feel like the #Oscars didn’t need to open with an eating disorder joke."
And the controversy behind Kimmel's hosting sadly doesn't end there.
Later in the host's opening monologue, he made a joke aimed at Robert Downey Jr.'s history of substance abuse. Check out the moment he fell flat below:
"This is the highest point of Robert Downey Jr.'s long and illustrious career. Well, one of the highest points," Kimmel teased.
He then made a weird joke about his genitals.
But while Kimmel may have been aiming for laughs, it did look like his remarks hit a nerve with the Iron Man star himself. As cameras panned to Downey Jr., the actor's expression spoke volumes, betraying a mix of discomfort and displeasure. However, there was no Oscars slap here, as Downey Jr. was able to shrug off the comments.
Nevertheless, that didn't stop social media users rushing to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their thoughts on the "jokes" - with viewers branding them "unnecessary" and "distasteful".
If you or someone you know is battling an eating disorder, please get in touch with the National Eating Disorders Association's helpline at (800) 931-2237 or visit https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline
