Oscars 2026 halted as Conan O'Brien issues 'attack' warning

Oscars host Conan O'Brien introduced his 2026 monologue by issuing an attack warning, after security at the Academy Awards was beefed up due to the ongoing war between the United States and Iran. O'Brien told his audience that security is "tighter" than usual - but quickly turned it into a joke about Timothee Chalamet's recent remarks regarding opera and ballet.

He quipped: "Security is extremely tight tonight, I've just got to mention that. I'm told there's concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet communities. They're just mad you left out jazz!" The camera quickly cut to Chalamet in the audience, who was grinning and slightly red-faced.

Chalamet is nominated with a Best Actor gong for his role in Marty Supreme, but came under fire for criticising opera and ballet as dying arts.

He said: "I don't want to be working in ballet or opera or things where it's like, 'Keep this thing alive even though no-one cares about this any more.'"

He joked: "All respect to the ballet and opera people out there. I just lost 14 cents in viewership. I just took shots for no reason."

However, in reality, security has been beefed up due to warnings from the FBI that California is at risk from Iran attacks after US military actions were launched.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff Department refused to comment on the reports, and would only say it is operating as an "elevated level of readiness" and is "maintaining increased vigilance."

Oscars executive producer Raj Kapoor, meanwhile, said: "I feel like on this show, we have one of the best teams in the business in all aspects, and that comes down to our security team.

"So, of course, every year we monitor what's going on in the world. We have the support of the FBI and the LAPD, and it's a close collaboration."