Oscars: Brad Pitt Takes Jab at Impeachment Trial During Acceptance Speech

Brad Pitt was named best supporting actor for his role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood at the 2020 Oscars on Sunday night. 

“This is incredible, really incredible,” he was quick to say when taking the stage. Before expressing his thank-yous, Pitt took a moment to take a jab at the Senate. 

“They told me I only had 45 seconds this year, which is 45 seconds more than the Senate gave John Bolton this week,” the actor said, referring to the lack of witnesses during the recent Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. “I’m thinking maybe Quentin [Tarantino] does a movie about it. In the end, the adults do the right thing.” 

Pitt then continued to thank his director for being “original” and “one of a kind.” “The film industry would be a much drier place without you,” he said to Tarantino. As for his Once Upon a Time in Hollywood co-star Leonardo DiCaprio, Pitt said he would “ride on your coattails any day.” 

The actor explained that his Oscar win made him nostalgic, as he was quick to remember his parents taking him to a drive-in to see Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. “And Geena [Davis] and Ridley [Scott] giving me my first shot, to all the wonderful people I met along the way to stand here now,” said Pitt before appropriately ending his train of thought with, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood … ain’t that the truth.”

To conclude his speech, the actor thanked his kids, who “color everything I do.” 

Backstage, Pitt addressed his political comment onstage: “I was really disappointed with this week. I think when gamesmanship trumps doing the right thing … I don’t think we should let that slide. I’m very serious about that.” 

The actor beat out other nominees including Al Pacino (The Irishman), Joe Pesci, (The Irishman), Tom Hanks, (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) and Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes). 

Pitt has been a popular commodity this awards season, after delivering comical speeches that have gone viral. After winning the supporting actor Golden Globe, he paid homage to DiCaprio’s infamous Titanic role, as he quipped: “I would’ve shared the raft with you.” The actor also joked about putting his SAG statuette on his “Tinder profile” and even poked fun at Prince William and Kate Middleton during the BAFTAs after Brexit: “Hey Britain, heard you just became single — welcome to the club,” he said. 

The award marks Pitt’s first Oscar win for an acting category. He previously won in 2012 as a producer of best picture winner 12 Years a Slave.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which earned 10 Oscar noms, including for best director, motion picture and screenplay, follows a fading action star (DiCaprio) and his inseparable stunt double (Pitt) in Tarantino’s homage through 1969 Tinseltown at the time of the Manson murders.

The 2020 Oscars aired live on ABC from the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood.