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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →At the 2026 Oscars, Conan O’Brien joked after the microphone retracted while live-action short-film co-winner Alexandre Singh was speaking. Entertainment Weekly reported O’Brien’s response: “I know we’re tight, but to retract a microphone on a man as he’s speaking is hilarious.”
What happened during Alexandre Singh’s speech?
The 98th Academy Awards took place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. During the live-action short-film category, the award ended in a tie. As co-winner Alexandre Singh began speaking, the microphone lowered into the stage, according to Entertainment Weekly’s report.
EW attributed the joke that followed to host Conan O’Brien: “I know we’re tight, but to retract a microphone on a man as he’s speaking is hilarious.” The Academy’s ceremony page records the event and winners, but this quotation is reported by EW; the Academy says official transcripts are not necessarily published immediately.
Was this the same as the “Golden” speech cutoff?
No. They were two separate moments at the same ceremony, involving different categories and different mechanisms.
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| Moment | What happened | What is reported about the cause |
|---|---|---|
| Live-action short film | Co-winner Alexandre Singh began speaking as the microphone retracted into the stage; O’Brien joked about it. | Entertainment Weekly reported the microphone incident and Conan’s comment. No explanation from the production for this specific retraction is established in the cited coverage. |
| Original song, “Golden” | The winning songwriters’ remarks were cut at the designated time while the orchestra played. | Executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor discussed the production’s broader timing decisions with the Associated Press. |
The distinction matters: Kapoor’s explanation should not be taken as an explanation for why Singh’s microphone retracted.
What did the Oscars producer say about timing?
In an interview with the Associated Press, Kapoor said the team continually monitored the ceremony’s timing and aimed to keep the show to three and a half hours or less. He described that responsibility as: “It’s our responsibility to keep the train on its tracks.”
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Kapoor also said producers had asked groups in categories with several winners to designate someone to speak. His comments offer context for the show’s overall time management and the “Golden” cutoff, not a confirmed reason for the microphone action during Singh’s remarks.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where can viewers check the official record?
The Academy’s 98th Academy Awards page lists ceremony details and winners. Its Awards Databases page describes a searchable acceptance-speech archive containing more than 1,500 onstage speeches by winners and acceptors. The Academy’s transcripts page notes that transcript publication is not immediate and may be delayed by speech or interview length.
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