A Night of Surprises and Stumbles at the 98th Academy Awards
The Dolby Theatre was abuzz with Hollywood’s elite on Sunday night for the 98th Academy Awards, a ceremony that delivered a potent mix of deserved accolades, unexpected snubs, heartfelt tributes, and biting humour from returning host Conan O’Brien. Across 24 competitive categories, the night saw first-time Oscar winners emerge, including Jessie Buckley for her role in Hamnet and Michael B. Jordan for his performance in Sinners. The three-hour spectacle provided ample fodder for memorable moments, both on and off the stage, as the industry’s biggest stars gathered.
Streisand’s Heartfelt Ode to Robert Redford
A particularly poignant moment came when Barbra Streisand, a seasoned EGOT winner, took to the stage. The 83-year-old icon became visibly emotional as she spoke about her deep connection with the late Robert Redford, her co-star in The Way We Were. Redford, who passed away at the age of 89 in September, was remembered by Streisand as an “intellectual cowboy.” She recounted their collaboration on the 1973 film and reflected on his illustrious career. Streisand shared a personal anecdote, revealing the affectionate nickname Redford had for her and the touching final note she penned before his death, concluding with “I love you, too, and I signed it Babs.”
The highlight of her tribute was her rendition of “The Way We Were,” a song she had also performed at Redford’s funeral. With a monumental photograph of Redford projected behind her, Streisand delivered a powerful performance, her voice filling the theatre with the iconic lyrics. Clad in a sophisticated black gown and tinted glasses, she concluded with a flourish that drew a standing ovation from the assembled celebrities. While many viewers were moved, some offered critiques of her vocal performance, despite its evident emotional impact.
Leonardo DiCaprio: The Accidental Meme King
Conan O’Brien playfully dubbed Leonardo DiCaprio the “king of memes” during the ceremony, acknowledging the actor’s consistent ability to generate viral facial expressions. O’Brien, with a mischievous glint, even prompted DiCaprio to create a “new meme” on the spot from his seat. The camera panned to a somewhat awkward DiCaprio, as O’Brien quipped, “That feeling when you didn’t agree to this.” Ever the professional, DiCaprio responded with a subtle smirk and a shrug, a moment that was instantly captured and shared across social media.
“KPop Demon Hunters” Win Sparks Outrage
The musical number “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters clinched the Best Original Song award, a victory that ignited a firestorm of fan fury online. The win was marred by a premature cut-off of the acceptance speech, leaving many feeling that the creatives behind the hit song were disrespected. Singer EJAE, along with co-writers Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park, took to the stage. A tearful EJAE expressed her pride in K-Pop’s growing global reach, stating, “Growing up, people made fun of me for liking KPop, but now everyone is singing our song and all the Korean lyrics and I’m so proud.” As Yu Han Lee stepped up to the microphone, his thank you was abruptly drowned out by the play-off music. Social media users were quick to voice their displeasure, with one commenter fuming, “Absolute disrespect and disgraceful to the creatives behind the biggest song of the year.”
O’Brien’s Edgy Monologue and Chalamet’s Jab
Conan O’Brien, returning for his second consecutive year as host, wasted no time in addressing the recent controversy surrounding Timothée Chalamet’s comments about opera and ballet. In his opening monologue, the comedian quipped about heightened security due to potential “attacks from both the opera and ballet communities.” The camera cut to a visibly nervous Chalamet, who offered a tight smile. O’Brien’s humour continued, referencing the lack of British actor nominations and making a controversial joke about Jeffrey Epstein. Later in the evening, O’Brien attempted to smooth things over with Chalamet, but it seemed the star wasn’t entirely convinced.
Chalamet’s Best Actor Snub
In a significant upset, Timothée Chalamet was overlooked for the Best Actor award, a category many had predicted him to win for his role in Marty Supreme. The esteemed field included Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent). It was Michael B. Jordan who ultimately took home the coveted prize, leaving Chalamet visibly disappointed as his name was not called.
A Historic Tie in Best Live Action Short Film
The night featured a rare occurrence when Kumail Nanjiani announced a tie in the Best Live Action Short Film category. The award was jointly given to Two People Exchanging Saliva and The Singers. Nanjiani humorously noted the unusual nature of the announcement, assuring the audience, “Everyone, calm down, we’re going to get through this.” This marks only the seventh tie in Academy Awards history, with the most famous instance being in 1969 when Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand both won for their respective roles.
To maintain an element of surprise, Nanjiani opted to announce the second winner after the first had completed their acceptance speech. Directors Sam A. Davis and Jack Piatt accepted the award for The Singers, expressing their astonishment at the tie. Following their remarks, Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata were awarded for Two People Exchanging Saliva. Nanjiani quipped about the irony of the category taking twice as long to present, while Singh and Musteata expressed their delight in sharing the honour with The Singers, acknowledging the historical significance of the moment.
O’Brien’s Hosting: A Mixed Bag
Conan O’Brien’s hosting duties drew mixed reactions from viewers. Some found the ceremony to be a “joke,” criticising his “awful” hosting skills. His opening skit, which involved inserting himself into the nominated Best Picture films, and a lengthy monologue that included an impromptu musical number, were met with varied responses. Later in the show, a joke referencing Jeffrey Epstein caused further controversy.
The “Schindler’s Post-It” Joke Backfires
Comedian Kumail Nanjiani also faced backlash for a joke made while presenting the Best Live Action Short Film award. Attempting a gag about shortening movie titles, he suggested renaming films, including a controversial alteration of Schindler’s List to “Schindler’s Post-It.” This remark, referencing the film about Oskar Schindler saving Jews during the Holocaust, was met with widespread criticism and accusations of antisemitism. Viewers expressed disgust, with many finding the joke in poor taste and nonsensical.
In Memoriam Segment Sparks Outrage Over Omissions
The emotional In Memoriam segment, intended to honour those lost in the past year, left many viewers upset due to perceived snubs. While notable figures like Diane Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, and Rob Reiner were remembered, omissions such as Eric Dane, James Van Der Beek, and Brigitte Bardot drew significant criticism. The recent passing of Dane at 53 and Van Der Beek at 48, as well as Bardot’s death at 91, were highlighted by disappointed viewers.
Pedro Pascal’s Unrecognizable Makeover
Pedro Pascal surprised many with a dramatic shift in his appearance on the red carpet. The actor, known for his signature facial hair, debuted a clean-shaven look that left fans stunned. Social media buzzed with speculation, with some jokingly questioning if he had been “cloned” or was a “wax figure.” The actor’s drastically different look prompted a double-take from many accustomed to his usual style.
Teyana Taylor’s Backstage Confrontation
Teyana Taylor was involved in a heated backstage incident after an alleged physical altercation. Video footage captured the visibly upset singer accusing a man of shoving her as she navigated a crowded corridor. Taylor vocally expressed her displeasure, stating, “You’re a man putting his hands on a female.” She explained that she had been pushed and emphasized the importance of personal space, declaring, “Do not touch me, do not shove me, do not push me.”
“One Battle After Another” Claims Best Picture
The night concluded with One Battle After Another taking home the coveted Best Picture award, capping off a season of anticipation. Michael B. Jordan’s win for Best Actor in Sinners and Jessie Buckley’s Best Actress award for Hamnet were among the night’s major acting honours. Paul Thomas Anderson accepted the top prize for One Battle After Another, which led the night with six wins. The film, a black comedy action-thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio, beat out a strong field of nominees. Jordan’s victory over favourite Timothée Chalamet was undoubtedly one of the most talked-about moments of the evening.
