Oscars live broadcast cancelled by Russian state television

Actor Jared Leto’s reference to those affected by the crisis in Ukraine caused Russia’s state-run television station to cancel its live broadcast of the Oscars ceremony.

Channel One had been due to begin broadcasting the five-hour ceremony at 4am (MSK) on Monday morning, but announced it would broadcast a recorded version of the show on Tuesday morning instead.

A spokesman said: “Due to a large number of news reports on the situation around the autonomous republic of Crimea and Ukraine and due to the viewers” increased interest in news, Channel One considers the live broadcasting of the Oscar ceremony for five hours to be inappropriate, especially in the early morning hours, when the maximum amount of news broadcasting is done.”

Dallas Buyers Club actor Leto dedicated part of his acceptance speech to the ongoing unrest in Ukraine when he was awarded the best supporting actor prize on Sunday evening.

“To all the dreamers out there around the world watching this tonight in places like the Ukraine and Venezuela,” he said, “I want to say we are here and, as you struggle to make your dreams happen, to live the impossible, we’re thinking of you tonight.”