Host Conan O’Brien left the audience stunned during the 2026 Academy Awards after delivering a controversial joke referencing convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Britain’s Prince Andrew.

The remark came as O’Brien discussed the absence of British acting nominees at the ceremony, held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

“For the first time since 2011, there are no British actors nominated,” O’Brien told the audience, before adding: “But at least they arrest the paedophiles over there.”

The line appeared to catch many in the theatre off guard, prompting a brief moment of silence before applause followed from sections of the crowd.

The joke alluded to the release earlier this year of millions of documents connected to the Epstein case. The files, made public in January, reportedly referenced a number of high-profile figures from politics, business and entertainment.

Among those facing scrutiny is Prince Andrew — full name Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — who was arrested in February 2026 over alleged ties to Epstein and is currently under investigation for suspected misconduct in public office.

Epstein, a financier who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, had long been linked to a network of powerful figures through his social and business connections.

The controversy surrounding the case has increasingly been referenced in entertainment circles. Earlier this year, comedian Nikki Glaser alluded to the issue during the Golden Globes.

Addressing the audience — which included actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Julia Roberts — Glaser joked about the number of high-profile attendees.

“It’s insane. There are so many A-listers,” she said. “And by A-lists, I do mean people who are on A-lists that have been heavily redacted.”

Opening monologue

O’Brien’s opening monologue at the Oscars ranged widely across Hollywood and politics. He joked about Timothée Chalamet amid a recent ballet and opera controversy, took aim at Sean Penn and Netflix chief Ted Sarandos, and mocked the lack of arrests connected to the Epstein files.

Among his early remarks, O’Brien quipped: “I’m Conan O’Brien and I’m honoured to be the last human host of the Academy Awards. Next year it’s going to be a Waymo in a tux.”

He also referenced the previous year’s ceremony, saying: “Last year, when I hosted, Los Angeles was on fire. But this year, everything’s going great.”

Security at the event was another target. “Security is extremely tight tonight,” he joked. “I’m told there are concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet community.”

Later in the monologue, O’Brien shifted to a more serious tone, addressing viewers around the world and acknowledging current global tensions.

“Yes, tonight is an international event,” he said. “If I can be serious for just a moment — everyone watching right now, around the world, is all too aware that these are very chaotic, frightening times.

“It’s at moments like these that I believe the Oscars are particularly resonant. Thirty-one countries across six continents are represented this evening, and every film we salute is the product of thousands of people speaking different languages and working hard to make something of beauty.

“We pay tribute tonight not just to film, but to the ideals of global artistry, collaboration, patience, resilience — and that rarest of qualities today: optimism.”