The Oscars: A History of Unforgettable Moments and Major Mishaps
The Academy Awards, often dubbed Hollywood’s “night of nights,” are renowned for celebrating cinematic excellence. However, history has shown that these prestigious ceremonies are rarely without their share of drama, controversy, and outright blunders. From powerful protests to accidental slaps and monumental mix-ups, the Oscars have provided audiences with moments that are as memorable for their shock value as for their artistic merit. Let’s delve into some of the most significant controversies that have rocked the Academy Awards over its illustrious history.
The Protest That Led to a Blacklisting
One of the most impactful moments occurred at the 45th Academy Awards in 1973. While Marlon Brando was announced as the winner for Best Actor for his iconic role in The Godfather, it was Native American actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather who appeared on stage to accept the award on his behalf. Brando had penned a letter explaining his refusal of the honour. Littlefeather faced immediate backlash, with boos echoing through the auditorium before she could even deliver her message.
She explained Brando’s decision stemmed from the mistreatment of Native Americans in the film industry and recent events, specifically referencing the Wounded Knee Massacre. The fallout for Littlefeather was severe; she endured racism and threats, ultimately leading to her being blacklisted from Hollywood. The Academy eventually issued a formal apology for her treatment in 2022, the same year she passed away.
The Best Picture Fiasco of 2017
The 2017 Oscars ceremony was marred by an unprecedented gaffe during the announcement of the final award: Best Picture. Presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were handed the wrong envelope, leading them to mistakenly declare La La Land the winner. As the cast and crew of La La Land celebrated on stage, the error was discovered.
More than two minutes into their acceptance speeches, La La Land producer Jordan Horowitz halted the proceedings, announcing, “Guys, I’m sorry, there’s been a mistake. Moonlight, you guys won Best Picture.” It was later revealed that Beatty and Dunaway had been given a duplicate envelope for Best Actress, which contained Emma Stone’s name alongside La La Land. The accounting firm responsible, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, took full responsibility for the monumental mix-up.
The Slap That Went Global
Perhaps the most talked-about incident in recent Oscar history occurred in March 2022. During the ceremony, comedian Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, likening her to “G.I. Jane 2.” While initially met with laughter from some, Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia, did not find the comment amusing.
Moments later, her husband, Will Smith, walked onto the stage and slapped Rock across the face. The shocking incident was amplified when Smith, from his seat, yelled at Rock to “Keep my wife’s name out of your f—ing mouth,” repeating the demand for emphasis. Smith went on to win the Best Actor award that night but was subsequently banned from attending the Oscars for a decade.
Streaker Steals the Show
In 1974, the Oscars ceremony was interrupted by an unexpected guest. As renowned actor David Niven prepared to introduce Elizabeth Taylor, a naked man dashed across the stage, sporting a prominent moustache. Niven, with remarkable composure, quipped, “Isn’t it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?”
The streaker was identified as Robert Opel, a photographer and art gallery owner who had reportedly posed as a journalist to gain access. Surprisingly, Opel was not removed from the event and even attended the press conference. This led to speculation that the stunt might have been orchestrated. Tragically, Opel was killed during a robbery just five years later. The memorable streaking incident was humorously referenced 50 years later at the 2024 Oscars when John Cena presented the Best Costume Design award with only an envelope to cover his modesty.
A Shocking Tie for Best Actress
The 1969 Academy Awards saw an unprecedented event: a tie for Best Actress. Five actresses were nominated, but when presenter Ingrid Bergman opened the envelope, she announced, “It’s a tie.” The joint winners were Barbra Streisand for Funny Girl and Katharine Hepburn for The Lion in Winter.
While the exact vote count was never revealed, Streisand, then 27, was present to accept her award. Hepburn, who was 61 at the time and had won the award the previous year for Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, was not in attendance. Hepburn went on to win a total of four Academy Awards in her career but famously never attended any of the ceremonies.
Sally Field’s “You Like Me” Speech Misattribution
The phrase “You like me. You really like me” has become an enduring, albeit misquoted, moment in Oscar history. These seven words have haunted three-time Oscar winner Sally Field since her Best Actress win in 1985 for Places in the Heart. The issue? Field never actually uttered those exact words.
Her actual tearful speech included a similar sentiment: “I can’t deny the fact that you like me. Right now, you like me!” However, the slight alteration led to decades of ridicule and bullying. Field, who had felt like an outsider in Hollywood due to her early career in roles like Gidget and The Flying Nun, was trying to express her desire for respect. She later expressed a wish to have been “more articulate” but felt she had succeeded in conveying her desire for the Academy’s recognition of her talent.
The Controversial Campaign for To Leslie
In early 2023, the Academy Awards saw a surprising Best Actress nomination for Andrea Riseborough, an actress from the independent film To Leslie. What made this nomination particularly noteworthy was the highly publicised campaign on her behalf, spearheaded by prominent stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Amy Adams.
The controversy intensified as Riseborough’s nomination was seen by many as coming at the expense of two Black actresses who were considered frontrunners. This sparked criticism concerning the Academy’s long-standing issues with diversity. Although Riseborough did not win, the Academy launched an investigation into the campaign, which largely took place on social media, to determine if any rules had been broken. The investigation led to significant changes for the 2024 awards, including stricter rules against using social media to influence voting and banning members from speaking to the media about their choices.
Adrien Brody’s Uninvited Kiss
In 2003, Adrien Brody’s acceptance speech for Best Actor for The Pianist took an unexpected turn when he grabbed presenter Halle Berry and planted an uninvited kiss on her. Brody then quipped, “I bet they didn’t tell you that [kiss] was in the gift bag.” While it raised eyebrows at the time, the incident gained further scrutiny in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
Berry later spoke about the moment on Watch What Happens Live, admitting her shock and confusion. Brody, speaking to Variety more recently, acknowledged the heightened awareness of such interactions in today’s society, stating his actions were never intended to make anyone feel bad. In a humorous turn of events, Berry seemingly exacted her revenge at the 2025 Oscars by planting a kiss on Brody on the red carpet, later sharing the moment on Instagram.
The Emilia Pérez Backlash
The 2025 Academy Awards saw significant attention for the French-Spanish film Emilia Pérez, which garnered 13 nominations but ultimately won two awards. The film itself proved highly controversial. Described as a musical crime comedy, it tells the story of a Mexican cartel leader who fakes his death and transitions, with the title role played by transgender actress Karla Sofía Gascón.
The film faced backlash from the Mexican community for its depiction of drug cartels and comments made by the writer-director Jacques Audiard about the Spanish language. The LGBTQ community also raised concerns about the portrayal of transgender individuals. Furthermore, past offensive comments made by Gascón on social media resurfaced. Gascón apologised and withdrew from the awards season. Co-star Zoe Saldaña’s attempt to address criticism from a Mexican journalist during a press conference also backfired, leading to further online debate and criticism, including from those who had previously disagreed with her portrayal of Nina Simone.
