Wanda Sykes revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday that she’s being underpaid for her hosting duties at the Oscars, Too Fab reports. Sykes will host the prestigious ceremony on Sunday alongside Amy Schumer and Regina Hall.
While catching up with Jimmy Kimmel, Sykes told the late night host how she got the gig.
“My agent called and she was like, ‘Will Packer wants to talk to you,” she said, adding that Packer is “the producer of the Oscars.”
He then offered her the position, which Sykes said she accepted somewhat skeptically.
“And I was like, ‘oh yeah like that’s what I need right now, another job,” she continued as the audience laughed.
Sykes then told Kimmel that after accepting the position, she realized that “out of all the jobs that I have, this one is actually gonna cost me money.” The late night host quickly agreed, sharing that he made only $15,000 for hosting the Oscars back in 2018.
“And there was one of me so you guys are probably going to have to split that,” he said with a chuckle.
“It sounds like it’s a lot for one night, but it’s months of work leading up to it,” Kimmel said. “You’re getting robbed. Hold out right now, because they need hosts.”
Sykes then playful responded that she’s “already decided that I’m going to steal an Oscar.”
Kimmel also got a sneak peak into what Sunday night will look like with three hosts.
“We’re going to share a monologue at the top of the show,” Sykes said. “And then you’ll see us in different [combinations].”
The show has gone without a host for the last three years, following comedian Kevin Hart stepping down from the role after several old homophobic tweets of his resurfaced, Billboard reports.
Regardless of her hosting duties, Sykes told Kimmel she’s going to have a good time at the show, CNN reports.
“I’m here to have some fun,” she said, according to CNN. “It’s not like I’m getting paid, you know. You get what you pay for. You want sober Wanda, you’ve got to add some zeroes and move that comma. You’re getting free Wanda.”
