Within minutes of his opening monologue at the 2026 Oscars, Conan O’Brien said something that many in the audience took as a pointed reference to ex-Prince Andrew and his arrest. The audience was initially surprised, then the Dolby Theatre broke into loud applause. It started as O’Brien took a dig at this year’s nominations, a moment that turned into a possible reference to a major scandal in the UK.
Oscars 2026 turns brutal for Ex-Prince Andrew after Conan O’Brien’s apparent swipe
In his opening bit at the 2026 Oscars, Conan O’Brien possibly took a dig at ex-Prince Andrew and his recent arrest. As O’Brien put it, “First time since 2012 that there are no British actors nominated for Best Actor or Best Actress,” adding, “Yeah, British spokesperson said, ‘Yeah, well, at least we arrest our pedophiles.’ So, you got that going on the road.”
The remark caused a moment of silence in the audience, but a round of applause followed soon after. Notably, O’Brien did not mention Andrew by name, but the timing of the former Duke’s controversies made the target seem clear to many.
Andrew was recently arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and his connections with Jeffrey Epstein. O’Brien’s diss spread immediately online, with viewers arguing over whether it crossed a line or simply said what other awards shows would usually avoid. GB News noted the broader tone of O’Brien’s monologue, which included jabs and an early warning that the night could get uncomfortable for some.
Whatever side people were on, the reaction to an indirect jab at ex-Prince Andrew inside the 2026 Oscars gave Conan O’Brien some noise, which happens to be something that every Oscars host wants. The crowd went from stunned to cheering in seconds, and the moment became one of the first big talking points of the night; a reminder that this year’s ceremony had planned to keep things interesting.
