Host Regina Hall’s Oscars ‘pat down’ skit slammed by viewers

Viewers have hit out at Oscars host Regina Hall, who performed a cheeky skit which saw her grope several actors onstage.

An Oscars segment led by co-host Regina Hall has been absolutely slammed by viewers, who dubbed it “horrific” and “cringe”.

US actress Hall, 51, hosted a comedy skit at today’s awards ceremony, in which she said she needed to conduct “Covid tests” on several A-list audience members.

She then pulled a handsome line-up of blokes onstage including Bradley Cooper, Timothee Chamalet, Simu Liu and Tyler Perry, before instructing them to head backstage to “take your masks and clothes off” so she could do a Covid swab on them “with my tongue”.

She also checked if 24-year-old Australian Euphoria actor Jacob Elordi was “legal” before asking him to join the group.

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Co-host Regina Hall has been slammed for the skit. Picture: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Shortly afterwards, she also did a “Covid pat down” on Best Sound presenters Jason Momoa and Josh Brolin, rubbing them all over their bodies as the crowd broke out in fits of laughter.

While Hall has received plenty of support for her stunt, with many dubbing her a “star” and a “comedy queen”, there is an equal amount of backlash to the moment, with British TV host Piers Morgan saying “the double standard is laughable”.

Regina Hall's segment saw her grope Josh Brolin and Jason Momoa.

“Interesting to see a female celebrity make lewd sexual jokes about male stars and physically grope them on stage. Of course, if a man did that, he’d be immediately cancelled,” Morgan wrote.

Others agreed, pointing out how disgraceful the segment would be if roles were reversed.

Sooo imagine if Jason Momoa and Josh Brolin gave Regina Hall a “covid pat down” as a part of an Oscars skit. Imagine the outrage. Sexism goes both ways folks. That was not cool. Not cool at all. That whole sketch was cringey.#Oscars

— Rob J Spain (@borniapss112) March 28, 2022

No because that skit was HORRIFIC. If the genders were swapped, can’t imagine. This is so so harmful for us woman and I cannot believe she was ok to do that. Regina Hall should he ashamed #Oscars

— Mafre (@Mafre1989) March 28, 2022

Regina Hall was creepy not funny. When I’ve said men were creepy for acting that way I meant that they should stop — not that we should start acting the same. #Oscars#Oscar#Oscars2022

— 🎱 (@birdappfury) March 28, 2022

I love Regina Hall, I really do. I was shocked to see this weird segment, though. How did anyone think this was a good idea? Not helping the cause at all, Miss Hall! pic.twitter.com/2ftWt4lqXA

— Evelyn Baker Lang (@EvelynBakerLan1) March 28, 2022

Flip the roles on that Regina Hall bit and people are getting canceled left and right. Just saying. #Oscars

— John Murray (@JohnMur8434) March 28, 2022

Hall is co-hosting the ceremony with Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer.

This year, 10 nominees are battling it out for the big gong, Best Picture – including Belfast, CODA, Don’t Look Up, Drive My Car, Dune, King Richard, Licorice Pizza, Nightmare Alley, The Power of the Dog and West Side Story.

It’s a crowded field, but in recent weeks it’s emerged as a two-horse race, with the touching family drama CODA looking likely to battle it out with Jane Campion’s brooding western The Power of the Dog for Best Picture.