The 2026 Academy Awards may have celebrated some of Hollywood’s biggest achievements, but the ceremony also sparked online debate after Tesla CEO Elon Musk slammed the Oscars, calling them “unwatchable” in response to a viral social media post.
Musk said Monday in response to a tweet mocking what the user described as changing trends in Hollywood storytelling and award eligibility.
“The Oscars have become invisible,” Musk wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in response to the viral post.
The original tweet referenced the classic film The Godfather and joked that if it were made today, it would reportedly have trouble qualifying for an Oscar. The post used satire to comment on perceived shifts in Hollywood’s cultural and societal expectations.
“If The Godfather was made today, he would NOT be eligible for an Oscar unless he switched to The Godfather and made someone an offer he didn’t hear. You can still leave the gun, but you can’t take the cannoli if the baker doesn’t support gay marriage. RIP Hollywood,” the viral post read.
Musk’s response quickly drew attention online, with thousands of users responding to his comment and debating whether the Oscars had indeed changed in a way that made it less appealing to audiences.
Big Winners Night at the 2026 Oscars
The criticism came just hours after the 98th Academy Awards ceremony took place at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. Often referred to as Hollywood’s most glamorous night, the event brought together filmmakers, actors and industry leaders to celebrate cinematic achievements.
Despite the online controversy, the ceremony was notable for the strong performance of Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another.
The film entered the awards night as one of the most nominated titles and went on to dominate the ceremony with six wins, including the coveted Best Picture award.
Paul Thomas Anderson also took home Best Director and the film won Best Adapted Screenplay.
Veteran actor Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film, and the production also won Best Ensemble.
Security Tight At Ceremony
This year’s Oscars also took place under increased security. The ceremony took place at a time when the United States is in conflict with Iran, which necessitated additional measures around the venue.
Organizers said they worked closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in California following a federal warning of a possible Iranian threat.
But authorities stressed there was no specific or credible threat directly targeting the Academy Awards.
