Politics
‘Succession’ Star Praised For Pro-Family Oscars Speech
Hollywood actor Kieran Culkin, best known for his role in HBO’s Succession, took home his first-ever Academy Award on Sunday night, winning Best Supporting Actor for his performance in A Real Pain. While the honor itself was a major milestone, it was Culkin’s acceptance speech that caught the most attention, as he humorously but pointedly expressed his desire to expand his family.
During his speech, Culkin, 42, addressed his wife, Jazz Charton, with a playful yet serious message about their family plans.
“Please don’t play the music, because I want to tell a really quick story about Jazz,” he said. “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… After the show, we’re walking through a parking lot, and she goes, ‘Oh God, I did say that. I guess I owe you a third kid.’”
The actor then recalled how Charton, assuming she was in the clear, joked that she would only give him a fourth child if he won an Oscar.
Culkin continued, “I turned to her and said, ‘Really? I want four.’ And she turned to me—I swear to God this happened, it was just over a year ago—and she said, ‘I will give you four when you win an Oscar.’ I held my hand out, she shook it.”
“Well, guess what?” Culkin said, turning toward his wife in the audience. “Love of my life, ye of no pressure. I love you… and let’s get crackin’ on those kids. What do you say?”
WATCH:
“Let’s get crackin’ on those kids” – Kieran Culkin accepts his #Oscar for his supporting role in #ARealPain pic.twitter.com/nGNWz3GNE4
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 3, 2025
The moment was met with cheers and laughter from the audience, but outside of the Hollywood bubble, many saw Culkin’s words as a rare and refreshing endorsement of traditional family values on a stage that often pushes a different message. Social media quickly lit up with praise for the actor.
One user wrote on X, “There needs to be an award show for best award acceptance speeches. Kieran would win that too. Brilliant.” Another user called it the “Best Oscar speech ever!”
There needs to be an award show for best award acceptance speeches. Kieran would win that too. Brilliant.
— clement clemensen (@cdclemensen) March 3, 2025
“Normalize being publicly excited to have more kids with your wife 
” wrote another.
Normalize being publicly excited to have more kids with your wife.
— Max Ukropina (@MaxUkropina) March 3, 2025
Culkin’s win came after years of critical acclaim for his role as Roman Roy on Succession, the wildly popular HBO drama about a dysfunctional media dynasty. His performance in A Real Pain, a Holocaust-themed film directed by Jesse Eisenberg, further solidified his reputation as a top-tier actor.
At an awards show where speeches often veer into political activism, Culkin instead used his moment to talk about faith in family, commitment, and—most notably—the joy of having children.
Charton, who married Culkin in 2013, has previously spoken about their journey as parents to their two children, Kinsey Sioux and Wilder Wolf. Now, if Culkin’s speech is any indication, they might be preparing to welcome more.
