The host addressed the controversy right off the bat.

Chris Rock was quick to address the #OscarsSoWhite controversy in his monologue as host of the 88th annual Academy Awards on Sunday night.

Perhaps the most anticipated moment of the night, heading into the show, was what Rock would say about the issue. Apart from a tweet calling the Oscars the "White BET Awards" immediately after the nominations were announced, Rock has remained silent on the issue, even canceling a planned cover story for The Hollywood Reporter.

Calling the show the "White People's Choice Awards," Rock added: "If you want black nominees every year you need to have back categories ... like: best black friend. 'And the winner for the 18th year in a row, is Wanda Sykes.' Is Hollywood racist? You're damn right Hollywood is racist. Hollywood is sorority racist."

He added that the "In Memoriam package is just going to be black people shot by the police on their way to the movies."

Here is what Hollywood had to say about his comments:

#ChrisRock is absolutely DESTROYING

— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 29, 2016

Chris Rock continues to be a hero in many ways to me.

— Jen Kirkman (@JenKirkman) February 29, 2016

Back in the day "We were too busy being raped & lynched to worry about who won for best cinematography." ~@ChrisRock

— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 29, 2016

They should give Chris Rock a fresh 10 minutes at the top of every hour. #Oscars2016

— Richard Roeper (@richardroeper) February 29, 2016

Is it me, or are there a lot of uncomfortable White faces in this #OscarsSoWhite show during @chrisrock monologue? @emergingUS

— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) February 29, 2016

Wow! Chris Rock.

— Paula Poundstone (@paulapoundstone) February 29, 2016

Oh, my God. My stomach is hurting I'm laughing so hard. @ChrisRock #Oscars

— Anson Mount (@ansonmount) February 29, 2016

OH MY GOD @ChrisRock is going in! Black people too worried about lynching to be worried about an oscar? WOW. BRING IT! #Oscars

— The Nightly Show (@nightlyshow) February 29, 2016

I think Chris Rock pulled strings to make sure no black people were nominated so he could do this set. #Oscars

— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) February 29, 2016

"Is Hollywood racist? Ya damn right." - @chrisrock #OscarsSoWhite

— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) February 29, 2016

I love chris rock. #Oscars

— Alex Gibney (@alexgibneyfilm) February 29, 2016

I didn't think Chris Rock would stay this long on #OscarsSoWhite. I am SO glad he is! Genius. Smart. Eloquent. Hilarious.

— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) February 29, 2016

This is probably the most interesting opening monologue the #Oscars has ever had. @chrisrock

— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) February 29, 2016

Watching @chrisrock kill it on the Oscars.
Good job Chris.

— Sinbad (@sinbadbad) February 29, 2016

Yes @chrisrock ... @idriselba @JasonMitch #willsmith should have been nominated. DEFINITELY

— Angie Harmon (@Angie_Harmon) February 29, 2016

He starts in right away....@chrisrock #Oscars

— Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo) February 29, 2016

Did he say gramma hanging from a tree?!!#Oscars

— Kym Whitley (@kymwhitley) February 29, 2016

I am also living for the UNCOMFORTABLE WHITE PEOPLE REACTION SHOTS #Oscars

— Michelle Collins (@michcoll) February 29, 2016

Chris Rock killed the opening monologue. Terrific.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 29, 2016

Hosting the #Oscars is as tough a job as there is in television. It's a 9.5. This year it's an 11. And #ChrisRock just delivered.

— Ben Mankiewicz (@BenMank77) February 29, 2016

This #ChrisRock monologue is more effective than boycotting the #OscarsSoWhite

— Enrique Acevedo (@Enrique_Acevedo) February 29, 2016

It's kind of like #OscarsSoBoring after that monologue though #Oscars

— Kiki Von Glinow (@KikiVonGlinow) February 29, 2016