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E! addressed #TimesUp while Ryan Seacrest stood on the red carpet

Kristin Dos Santos, left, made some spirited comments about gender inequality from her station at the Roosevelt Hotel Sunday night. (Photo: E!)
Kristin Dos Santos, left, made some spirited comments about gender inequality from her station at the Roosevelt Hotel Sunday night. (Photo: E!)

During E!’s 2018 Oscars red carpet coverage, people couldn’t stop talking about the juxtaposition of Kristin Dos Santos giving a rousing #GirlPower speech and … Ryan Seacrest’s presence.

Dos Santos, the E! News executive editor and correspondent, joined Giuliana Rancic at the Roosevelt Hotel to comment on the celebrity arrivals for the channel’s 90th Academy Awards coverage, while red carpet veteran Seacrest held down the fort at the Dolby Theatre.

Some people were surprised that Seacrest was there at all, considering the recent sexual harassment allegations against him amid Hollywood’s current effort to support the #TimesUp movement. Yet there he was, trying to wave down actors for a question or two. And during one of those long delays between interviews, Dos Santos gave a little talk about women in the industry.

“Only 4 percent of directors are female as of 2017, which is not a significant change within the last 10 years,” she pointed out. “I find those statistics really alarming because we’re seeing this change, but we need to take the next step, which is more jobs for females.”

She credited Lady Bird, directed by Greta Gerwig, for helping the industry move forward. “I hope a lot of young girls are watching tonight, and they see that it’s a valid career option to be a director,” she added. “Go for it. Follow your dreams.” She later talked about how the number of women in the academy has increased.

All the while, Dos Santos and her co-host Rancic weren’t anywhere near the action, while a man who’s been accused of sexual assault was right in the middle of it.

And the Twitterverse couldn’t help but comment on this seemingly backward situation.

Some wished that E! had put Dos Santos instead of Seacrest on the red carpet to talk with celebrities.

Others were just happy to see the network — under attack for not only protecting Seacrest but also for its salary gender gap — somehow acknowledging the inequality.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Jane Fonda, 80, rocks tight white gown with shoulder pads to the 2018 Oscars

Adam Rippon’s bondage suit at the Oscars has the internet reacting

#MeToo trailblazers Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino stand in solidarity on the red carpet

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