Jenny the donkey made a surprise appearance at this year’s 95th Academy Awards - or did she?

Host Jimmy Kimmel walked a donkey on stage wearing a sequined emotional support vest at the Dolby Theatre. He claimed it was Jenny from Banshees of Inisherin, but it has now emerged it was not the real Jenny.

Presenting at the Oscars, Kimmel said on Sunday: “This is Jenny, she’s one of the stars of ‘Banshees of Inisherin’.

"Not only is Jenny an actor, she’s a certified emotional support donkey, or at least that’s what we told the airline to get her on the plane from Ireland. “So if you’re feeling upset, or you didn’t win or you’re anxious or you just love mules, feel free to come up and give her a hug.

“And Jenny, I want you to see there’s your friend Colin right there,” Kimmel said, pointing to Colin Farrell, who was nominated for his first Oscar for lead actor.  Farrell blew a kiss to Jenny and looked genuinely excited to see the donkey.

However, the director of The Banshees of Inisherin, Martin McDonagh revealed they had used a stand-in donkey. 

“It wasn’t Jenny. We never would have allowed that to happen,” he said.

Kerry Condon who was nominated for the supporting actress Oscar for her role in Banshees of Inisherin confirmed the news saying “No. All the way from Ireland? ‘Course not.”

“Let’s get you back on that Spirit Airlines flight now, huh?” Kimmel said to the Jenny stand-in.