IS IT TIME TO AXE THE OSCARS? CALLS GROW TO SCRAP THE CEREMONY AS IT BATTLES AGEISM AND SEXISM CLAIMS, VIEWING FIGURES DWINDLE AND STARS DON'T EVEN BOTHER SHOWING UP. (PHOTO).

 Is it time to axe the Oscars? Calls grow to scrap the ceremony as it battles ageism and sexism claims, viewing figures dwindle and stars don't even bother showing up

Sunday night’s Oscars left many viewers scrolling their phones in frustration, calling the ceremony dull and predictable. 

While stars like Jessie Buckley, Amy Madigan, and Sean Penn took home trophies, some winners, including Penn, weren’t even in attendance. 

Social media lit up with complaints: “Just cancel the Oscars at this point. Who cares,” “This show is so boring,” and “Very! The jokes are forced, dry, and fall flat,” summed up the general mood.

The broadcast, now struggling to draw viewers, has seen audiences drop below 20 million since 2020, a sharp decline from decades when reaching that milestone was almost guaranteed. 

In response, the Academy announced that the Oscars will move to YouTube in 2029, ending ABC’s 50-year run as broadcaster. Officials said the move “will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible.”

One surprise of the night came in the Best Actor race. Timothée Chalamet, 30, widely expected to win for Marty Supreme, was edged out by Michael B. Jordan, 39, who became a last-minute frontrunner. Industry observers noted Chalamet’s earlier comments about ballet and opera may have hurt his chances, though some also attribute it to the long-standing trend of older male actors winning. Across 97 ceremonies, the average age of a Best Actor winner is about 44, while Best Actress winners are, on average, eight years younger.

History shows similar patterns: Leonardo DiCaprio earned his first Oscar at 41 despite multiple earlier nominations, and Sean Penn won his first at 44. 

Penn, who claimed Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another, wasn’t at the ceremony. 

Kieran Culkin joked, “Sean Penn couldn’t be here this evening or didn’t want to, so I’ll be accepting the award on his behalf.” Fans initially criticized Penn’s absence, unaware he was in Ukraine filming a documentary and supporting relief efforts.

Michael Schulman, a longtime awards analyst, said the trend reflects cultural stereotypes. “We tend to think of successful men as those who have worked their way up, achieving their highest levels of power in their 40s or 50s,” he told The Telegraph. 

“For male actors, an Oscar often marks recognition for their entire ascent, or just time served.” 

Women, on the other hand, are more likely to win before turning 40. Schulman referred to this as the “Cinderella myth,” explaining that Hollywood allows men longer career arcs while women face pressure to peak earlier.

The Oscars continue to draw criticism not only for age and gender disparities but also for their focus on less widely-seen films. Last year, Demi Moore, 63, lost Best Actress for The Substance, which went to 26-year-old Mikey Madison for Anora. 

Combined with declining ratings and social media backlash, the Academy is under pressure to rethink both representation standards and audience engagement.