As expected, Joe Biden gallantly stepped onto the Oscars stage to introduce his “friend,” Lady Gaga, during Sunday evening’s ceremony. This joint appearance was conceived after Gaga signed on to perform “Til It Happens to You” from the Hunting Ground documentary, which zeroed in the prevalence of college-campus rape. Gaga delivered a powerful rendition of the song that produced many misty-eyed folks. However, it was Biden’s introduction that set the stage perfectly.
Although Biden prefaced his comments with a self-deprecating statement — “I’m the least qualified man here tonight” — he soon struck a serious note. No, he did not announce his presidential candidacy, but Biden did urge the audience to visit ItsOnUs.org and take the pledge launched by the Obama administration. Biden also spoke directly towards all women who have suffered from sexual assault:
“Despite significant progress over the last few year, too many women and men, on and off college campuses, are still victims of sexual abuse and tonight I am asking you to join million of Americans including me, President Obama, the thousands of students I’ve met on college campuses, and the artists here tonight to take the pledge.
“A pledge that says, I will intervene in situations when consent has not or can not been given. Let’s change the culture. We must and we can change the culture. So that no abused woman or man, like the survivors you will see tonight, ever feel they ever have to ask themselves, ‘What did I do?’ They did nothing wrong.”
Biden’s powerful speech left much of the Internet hoping for a surprise addition, perhaps one announcing a Biden ticket with Chris Rock? That’s far too much to ask, but Biden did give Rock $20 for Girl Scout Cookies.
Biden gave me $20 for cookies… #Oscars pic.twitter.com/rCLbrNXIZI
— Chris Rock (@chrisrock) February 29, 2016
The rest of the Internet had reactions, which (sadly) did not include cookies.
https://twitter.com/MatthewACherry/status/704157280929861632
Joe Biden just said the words "my friend … Lada Gaga."
— Mike Wilson (@ByMikeWilson) February 29, 2016
Was hoping Joe Biden would pull a Kanye and announce he was running for president. What a letdown.
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) February 29, 2016
Joe Biden please be president sorry we weren't cool about it we were joking please be president for real but please.
— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) February 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/MayorBurnsy/status/704156806486994944
Yay! Joe Biden. Drone strikes!!! #Oscars
— jeremy scahill (@jeremyscahill) February 29, 2016
Joe Biden would basically be the Warriors of a candidate field that's currently made up of only D-league teams.
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) February 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/SheaSerrano/status/704158237994561538
Just what kind of "friends" are @JoeBiden and @ladygaga – like, brunch friends, enrobed hunting trip mates, go to the gyno together pals?
— Sarah Thyre (@SarahThyre) February 29, 2016
is it too late to lock joe biden in a room and force him to run for president because i'm running out of ideas
— Lana Berry (@Lana) February 29, 2016