Jimmy Kimmel tackles Harvey Weinstein scandal in opening monologue

Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel has addressed Hollywood's sexual harassment storm head-on, using his opening monologue to attack Harvey Weinstein and highlight the pressures faced by women in all industries.

Kimmel, in his second turn as host at the Dolby Theatre ceremony, had been asked repeatedly in the weeks leading up to Sunday night's show as to whether he would address the #MeToo movement.

He wasted no time in giving his answer, joking that the Oscar statuette was "everyone's favourite man in Hollywood".

"Keeps his hands where you can see them. No penis at all. He’s literally a statue of limitations," he said.

He poked fun at Hollywood's attitude towards women, saying: "We made a movie called "What Women Want" – and it starred Mel Gibson."

Jimmy Kimmel: "I remember a time when the major studios didn't believe a woman or a minority could open a super hero movie—and the reason I remember that time is because it was March of last year." #Oscar2018 (via ABC) pic.twitter.com/ZhvBMco0Zc

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 5, 2018

And he quickly referenced the Weinstein scandal, mentioning how Weinstein was kicked out of the Academy in October - only the second person ever to be disgraced in such a way.

"There were a lot of great nominees and Harvey deserved it the most," he said."

He praised the women who spoke out against harassment and assault, saying: "If we can do that, and stop harassment in the workplace, women will only have to deal with harassment all the time, at every other place they go."

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The comedian also dived straight into material about last year's infamous mistake, when the envelopes for Best Actress and Best Picture got mixed up.

"I do want to mention, this year, when you hear your name called, don't get up right away," said Kimmel. "Give us a minute."

Tim Robey, The Telegraph's film critic,  said he juggled elegantly the "two big elephants" in the room: "the shambles of last year’s Best Picture result, and the ongoing spectre of the #MeToo movement". 

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"Referring to the Oscar statue as genital-free was a nice way in, and pitching The Shape of Water’s woman-fish romance as the natural upshot of male terribleness was a neat payoff. But what made Kimmel’s intro play so well was his relaxed delivery," he said.

"He never seemed flustered or overwhelmed by the job in front of him, didn’t overdo any phoney self-recrimination, addressed the issues head-on, and neatly weaved between straight-talking and satire. As a bonus, there was the promise of a jet-ski for the night’s shortest speech, revealed at the back of the stage with 'Helen Mirren not included'. Solid job."