Kieran Culkin’s sweary Oscars acceptance speech praised by viewers: “Will go down in history as one of the best ever”

3 March, 2025

Kieran Culkin at the Oscars

Kieran Culkin has won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, with his expletive-laden acceptance speech winning huge praise from viewers.

The actor picked up the prestigious award during this evening’s (March 2) ceremony for his turn in A Real Pain, the star having gone into the night as the overwhelming favourite.

As he picked up the gong, Culkin praised his fellow nominee and Succession co-star Jeremy Strong, calling him “amazing” in his nominated film The Apprentice.

“I love your work, its fucking… ah fuck I cursed, there we go! I cursed, I didn’t mean to. I’m not supposed to single anyone out as favouritism, but you were great. And I’ve already lost whatever speech I’ve prepared. 20 seconds or whatever,” he said.

“I have no idea how I got here, I’ve been acting my whole life, it’s part of what I do. I feel like this was never my trajectory, however I got here,” Culkin added, before praising his manager, the film’s director and co-star Jesse Eisenberg and his family, before revealing an anecdote about his wife.

“I have to thank my wife Jazz for absolutely everything,” he added, before recalling: “About a year ago I was on a stage like this and I very stupidly publicly said that I want a third kid from her because she said if I won the award she would give me the kid. Turns out she said that because she didn’t think I was gonna win. People came up to her and were, like, you know, really annoying her and it really got to her.

“After the show we were walking through a parking lot, she’s holding the Emmy trying to find her car, and she goes, ‘Oh god I did say that, I guess I owe you a third kid,’ and I turned to her and said, ‘Really I want four.’ She turned to me and said, ‘I will give you four when you win an Oscar.’

“I held my hand out she shook it and I have not brought it up once until now. Remember that honey, you do? Then I just have this to say to you Jazz, love of my life, ye of little faith… no pressure, I love you, I’m really sorry I did this again, and let’s get cracking on those kids, what do you say?”

Kieran Culkin at the Oscars
Kieran Culkin at the Oscars. CREDIT: Getty/Myung J. Chun

Fans on special media have praised the speech, one writing on X/Twitter: “Kieran Culkin’s #Oscars acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor for A REAL PAIN will go down in history as one of the best ever.”

“The best thing about Kieran Culkin winning is his speeches. he’s just a silly talented guy,” a second wrote, while a third added: “God, I love Kieran Culkin so much. His best speech of the season.”

“I need kieran culkin winning awards every year solely bc of his acceptance speeches ‘love of my life, ye of little faith’ is the funniest shit for a husband to tell his wife in front of millions of people,” a fourth wrote.

The nominations this year’s Oscars are led by Emilia Pérez, while The Brutalist, Wicked, Conclave, A Complete Unknown and Anora follow behind.

Follow all the rolling coverage of the ceremony right here, with a winners list being updated as the evening progresses.

There is also a change-up in the ceremony, with no performances for Best Original Song, while the show has also honoured Los Angeles after the recent wildfires with a nod by host Conan O’Brien. Additionally, Harrison Ford has pulled out of presenting due to illness.

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