Heartbreaking reason why Morgan Freeman was wearing only one glove during Oscars

He led the tributes to Gene Hackman.

Freeman then introduced the 'in memoriam' segment of the awards show which featured names like David Lynch, Jeff Baena and Dame Maggie Smith.

Other Hollywood legends such as Shelley Duvall and James Earl Jones were also mentioned in the touching tribute.

However, viewers were intrigued by the fact Freeman was wearing a single black glove.

Though it looks great and could easily be mistaken as a cool fashion choice, the 87-year-old has spoken out before about why he has to wear the glove.

Back in 2008, Freeman was involved in a car crash as he swerved off a Mississippi road and flipped over.

The acting legend had to be cut free by emergency services and badly injured his left arm.

At the time, a local newspaper editor said: "They had to use the jaws of life [hydraulic cutters] to extract him from the vehicle.

"He was lucid, conscious. He was talking, joking with some of the rescue workers at one point."

Despite being told the pain would ease and he would see some improvement by 2011, Freeman is still unable to use his hand.

He now has to wear a compression glove in order to keep the blood flowing.

Speaking previously about the injury, Freeman said: "I suffered nerve damage and it hasn't gotten better. I can't move it.

"If you don't move your hand, it will swell up. Do you know you move your hand about a million times a day?"

Freeman starred alongside Hackman in Unforgiven, the second film for which Hackman won an Oscar.

Hackman was found dead last week alongside his wife and one of their dogs.

Freeman said: "This week our community lost a giant, and I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman.

"He received two Oscars and more importantly he won the hearts of film lovers all over the world."