Folks on both sides of the ideological aisle will be debating First Lady Michelle Obama’s appearance on the Oscars for some time, but one matter is instantly clear. The First Lady was flanked by several members of the U.S. military during her satellite appearance from The White House to announce the Best Picture winner, and she failed to acknowledge their presence or their heroism.
Nor did Obama name check Best Picture nominee Zero Dark Thirty, the film detailing the successful hunt for Osama bin Laden, arguably her husband’s finest achievement in his four-plus years in office.
Instead, she gave a speech extolling the messages in the nine Best Picture nominees — perhaps she mentally skipped over Django Unchained’s unexpurgated violence — and used talking points echoing speeches her husband delivered long, long ago.
Meanwhile, even liberal media reporters found the appearance off-putting.
However, instead of inspiring, the surprising presenter instantly drew a few head shakes and loud groans from journalists backstage.
“This makes no sense, it adds nothing to the show,” one industry expert told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column with a bemused laugh, while another surmised it as something of a “suck job.”
“They threw all the campaign parties, I guess it was Hollywood’s way of acknowledging their continued love and support of the Obamas,” said another. “It was stupid and pointless.”
LA-based radio anchor Steven Gregory sent out this Tweet regarding the press’s reaction to the appearance:
When Michelle Obama was introduced by Jack Nicholson most of the reporters in the media room groaned….loudly
Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood called the appearance “unnecessary and inappropriate,” while film critic Richard Roeper remarked his affection for the First Lady couldn’t prevent him from wishing she turned down the offer.
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