Oscars host Billy Crystal has stirred controversy after appearing in blackface make-up during the opening montage.
Crystal was upholding his Oscars hosting tradition of being digitally inserted into the year's nominated films when he appeared opposite Justin Bieber in black make-up as the late Sammy Davis Jr, in a spoof of Woody Allen's time travel-themed Midnight in Paris .
The comedian's impression of the legendary African-American entertainer was popular during his Saturday Night Live performances in the 1980s, but blackface comedy is now widely regarded as outdated and racist.
Read more: The history of blackface
Later in the ceremony, after African-American actress Octavia Spencer won Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Help, comedian Paul Scheer tweeted: "Octavia Spencer's win shows just how far we've come since Billy Crystal performed in Blackface."
Pop culture blogger Jorge Rivas tweeted: "And the Oscar for Most Racist Host goes to Billy Crystal's blackface performance."
"Could someone punch Billy Crystal in his doughy, nip-tucked face for his thoughtlessly offensive blackface Sammy Davis Jr?" Twitter users Chris and Karen wrote.
Some Twitter users defended the controversial performance.
"Billy Crystal has been doing wack blackface since the 1980s. His Sammy Davis Jr blackface was always wack but Sammy laughed, so…," Black Canseco tweeted.
"Nobody does blackface like Billy Crystal does blackface," wrote Gregory Violet.
Today was the ninth time Crystal had hosted the Academy Awards since 1990.
The ceremony was held in Los Angeles and French film The Artist , produced by Thomas Langmann and directed by Michel Hazanavicius, was the clear star of the night, winning a number of awards including Best Picture and Best Director.
Jean Dujardin also won the award for Best Actor for his leading role in the film.
Meryl Streep appeared genuinely shocked when she won Best Actress for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.
The award for Best Supporting Actress went to Octavia Spencer for her role in The Help and 82-year-old Christopher Plummer became the oldest actor to ever win an Oscar when he took home the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in Beginners.
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