HISTORIC WIN
Oscars 2017: Mahershala Ali makes history by becoming first Muslim actor to win an Academy Award
The Luke Cage star took home the first Oscar of the 89th Academy Awards
MOONLIGHT star Mahershala Ali has become the first Muslim actor to win an Academy Award at this year's Oscar.
The Luke Cage star took home the first Oscar of the 89th Academy Awards, scooping the best supporting actor prize for his role in Moonlight.
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Ali embraced the film's director Barry Jenkins on his way up to the stage where he buttoned his tuxedo jacket, saying: "My grandma would want me to button up."
He added: "Wow, I want to thank my teacher and my professors, they told me is that it's not about you, it's about the characters, you are in service to your character and your stories, I'm so blessed to have had this opportunity."
The actor welcomed his first child Bari Najma on February 22 and thanked his wife Amatus Sami-Karim saying: "My wife was in her third trimester doing awards seasons, we just had a daughter four days ago. I just want to thank her for being such a soldier through this process."
The ceremony kicked off with host Jimmy Kimmel thanking President Donald Trump for making the Oscars appear less racist.
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The talk show host said he knew the country was divided and he had been encouraged to say something that would unite people.
He said the ceremony was being watched around the world by "countries that now hate us" adding: "The country is divided right now, I've been been getting advice that I need to say something to unite us.
"Let me say something. I can't do that. There is only one Braveheart in this room and he's not going to do that either."
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OSCARS 2017 WINNERS LIST
Best Picture - Moonlight
Actor in a Leading Role - Casey Aflleck (Manchester by the Sea)
Actress in a Leading Role - Emma Stone (La La Land)
Directing - Damien Chazelle (La La Land)
Actress in a Supporting Role - Viola Davis (Fences)
Actor in a Supporting Role - Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)
Adapted Screenplay - Barry Jenkins (Moonlight)
Writing (Original Screenplay) - Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester By The Sea)
Animated Feature Film - Zootopia
Cinematography - Linus Sangren (La La Land)
Music (Original Song) - City of Stars (La La Land)
Music (Original Score) - La La Land
He added: "I want to say thank you to President Trump. Remember last year when it seemed like the Oscars were racist? It's gone!"
Referring to nominated films Hidden Figures and La La Land, he added: "Black people saved Nasa and white people saved jazz, that's what you call progress."
The ceremony opened with Justin Timberlake dancing into the Dolby Theatre while performing his hit Can't Stop The Feeling from the movie Trolls, which is nominated for best original song.
Stars including Naomie Harris, Taraji P. Henson, Charlize Theron and Jeff Bridges could be seen in the crowd singing along as he moved into the crowd to sing Lovely Day by Bill Withers as he danced with his wife Jessica Biel.
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After he took the stage Kimmel joked the other members of N Sync would let him back in the band if they had seen it.
The Oscar for make-up and hairstyling was awarded to superhero movie Suicide Squad while the prize for costume design was presented to Colleen Atwood for Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them.
Collecting her prize, Atwood said: "I'm truly floored, Sting told me I was going to win tonight. Obviously I didn't prepare anything."
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