10 Most Shocking Oscar Moments of the Last 25 Years, Ranked

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This time of year is known as Oscar season. If you’re a movie enthusiast, the Academy Awards might as well be a special occasion. It’s an opportunity to gather around your TV (perhaps with companions such as friends, family, or tasty treats), and revel in the year’s most prominent actors and outstanding movies. As always, viewers ponder the same questions leading up to the event. Who will take home the major awards? Which movie will be crowned Best Picture? Will winners make use of their platform to deliver politically charged speeches? And will there be an unexpected spectacle?

The Oscars aren’t solely about sparkle and style; they’ve also been marked by their fair share of disputes, scandals, and unexpected events. For our current piece, we chose to delve into blunders and scandals rather than oversights and astounding triumphs. Given that the Oscars are imminent, what could be more fitting than reminiscing about these 8 jaw-dropping moments from the Academy Awards over the past 25 years?

10
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper’s “Shallow” Performance (2019)

2018 saw Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper sharing the screen in a remake of the film titled “A Star Is Born“. This movie garnered numerous Oscar nominations, one of which was for the smash hit song “Shallow”. Notably, this tune was sung by both Gaga and Cooper during a live performance at the 91st Academy Awards. Their rendition was passionate and intense, brimming with intimate moments and tender touches. It appeared as if pyrotechnics were going off all around them while they sat at the piano, serenading into the same microphone.

The strong chemistry between the twosome sparked widespread speculation online, leading many spectators to believe they were a romantic item following their passionate act. However, neither Cooper nor Gaga confirmed these rumors, as they were already committed to other partners at the time.

9
John Cena Goes Streaking…Kind Of (2024)

One intriguing aspect of the Oscars is anticipating the outfits celebrities will don for the event. Who chose which ensemble? Who wore it more stylishly? Who was the most fashionable and who was less so? And in the context of the 96th Academy Awards, who might decide to grace the stage au naturel?

During the announcement for Best Costume Design, John Cena, a former WWE wrestler, unexpectedly emerged on stage in just sandals and a presenter’s card strategically placed to conceal his lower body. However, it wasn’t an impromptu streaking incident; instead, it was a pre-planned joke that referenced the infamous streaker who disrupted the Academy Awards in 1974. The skit added humor to the event and became one of its most memorable moments. Despite being just a jest, many spectators were left astonished when Cena walked on stage without any other clothing.

8
Jennifer Lawrence Stumbles After Winning (2013)

For any actor, this is the stuff nightmares are made of – winning an award they’ve dreamed about their entire career only to stumble and fall on stage in front of the industry’s elite during a live broadcast.

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At the 85th Academy Awards, Jennifer Lawrence’s dreaded scenario turned into a reality as she was awarded the Oscar for Best Actress for “Silver Linings Playbook”. Despite an awkward incident, Lawrence managed to keep her composure and maintain a positive attitude, playfully teasing her competitor Meryl Streep upon reaching the stage.

7
The Blackout During Parasite’s Big Win (2020)

It’s a long-cherished aspiration among filmmakers to step onto the stage and receive the Oscar for Best Picture. However, the team behind the 2019 South Korean film “Parasite” had the unique opportunity of living this dream when their movie was awarded the top honor at the 92nd Academy Awards ceremony.

As a film enthusiast, I must say that the Oscars are famous for hastily ushering winners off stage with music. However, this year, the Academy took it a step further, silencing the winners mid-speech by cutting off their microphones and dimming the stage lights, plunging them into darkness. This move sparked angry jeers and boos from the audience, who kept up a relentless chant of “Up! Up!” until the lights were restored, allowing the victors to complete their heartfelt “Thank You” speeches.

6
“Adele Dazeem” (2014)

In a stunning turn of events, Idina Menzel made a significant impact as the first Elphaba in the hit Broadway musical Wicked. She later repeated her success in 2013 when she lent her voice to Elsa in the sensational Disney animated movie Frozen. Her performance of the year’s most catchy tune, ““Let It Go,”” was played non-stop in homes worldwide. The song’s words were memorized by both kids and adults alike, and it even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. To top it off, Idina was invited to perform a live version of the hit song at the 86th Academy Awards.

John Travolta made an appearance on stage to introduce Idina Menzel’s performance. Given that Travolta is a musical icon himself, he appeared to be an ideal choice. However, things didn’t go as planned. It seems that Travolot became flustered when he saw the name “Idina Menzel” on the teleprompter. Instead of pronouncing her name correctly, he referred to her as “Adele Dazeem.” To add to his faux pas, he bowed his head in front of the camera, seemingly acknowledging his mistake. Despite this blunder, Idina remained unfazed and delivered a stellar performance at the event.

5
Angelina Jolie’s Odd Brotherly Love (2000)

Prior to gaining fame as a Hollywood icon, before the emergence of “Brangelina” and numerous children, Angelina Jolie generated surprise at the 72nd Academy Awards red carpet when she passionately kissed…her own brother, James Haven. This unusual display left many spectators puzzled. That evening, Angelina was awarded Best Supporting Actress for her role in Girl, Interrupted. One of the first things she said upon reaching the stage was, “At this moment, I’m deeply in love with my brother.” An unconventional start to an acceptance speech.

25 years on, the peculiar bond between Jolie and her brother continues to puzzle audiences, leaving them bewildered and squirming in their chairs just as it did initially.

4
Trey Parker & Matt Stone Make a Fashion Statement (2000)

One memorable aspect of any awards event is the pre-show spectacle. The red carpet gets unfurled for all the stars and guests, who strut their stuff in stylish outfits while navigating through enthusiastic crowds and bright camera flashes en route to the ceremony. One particularly unforgettable outfit was Jennifer Lopez’s green Versace dress at the 2000 Grammy Awards. Another standout appearance was Gwyneth Paltrow in a pink Ralph Lauren gown at the 71st Academy Awards. Lastly, we can’t forget the iconic dresses donned by the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

At the 72nd Academy Awards, Parker was nominated for Best Original Song for “Blame Canada.” Instead of donning tuxedos like most attendees, Parker and Stone opted for a more unconventional choice – outfits reminiscent of J.Lo and Gwyneth Paltrow. This was their playful rebellion against the Academy Awards and a satirical take on the glamourous world of celebrity culture. During interviews on the red carpet, they repeatedly said, “What a magical night!” Their behavior suggested they might have been under the influence of LSD – and indeed, they were. Given their reputation for humor and controversy, it’s no surprise that this is how the creators of South Park chose to make an entrance at the Oscars.

3
The Brody-Berry Kiss (2003)

At 29 years old, I found myself as the youngest actor to receive the Best Actor award at the 75th Academy Awards, all thanks to my exceptional performance in “The Pianist.” In the whirlwind of excitement, I impulsively kissed Halle Berry, the presenter, on the lips. She took it gracefully, laughing it off later. However, that spontaneous act stirred up controversy for its lack of consent.

At the forthcoming Academy Awards, Brody has been nominated again for Best Actor, this time for his work in The Brutalist. Here’s hoping he won’t repeat his past antics if he takes home the award. If he does, there’s a chance Brody could become a target of modern day backlash and public criticism.

2
La La Land’s False Victory (2017)

Poor Warren Beatty! The esteemed actor shared the stage with actress Faye Dunaway at the 89th Academy Awards, where they were in charge of presenting the Best Picture award. The crowd giggled when Beatty hesitated to announce the winner, thinking he was playfully prolonging the anticipation. However, it turned out that Beatty was puzzled by the card he held, which read “Emma Stone, La La Land“. This is why Dunaway mistakenly announced La La Land as Best Picture.

The team behind “La La Land” joyfully accepted their awards on stage, giving heartfelt speeches. However, there was a lot of confusion and uproar in the background, as Oscar staff members joined them and conversed with the producers. What started as a wonderful moment for “La La Land” soon turned into a dreadful situation. It was later discovered that Beatty and Dunaway were given the wrong envelope. The correct card actually named “Moonlight” as Best Picture, which Beatty later showed to the cameras as evidence.

At the end of the Oscars in 2017, the cast and crew of “La La Land” graciously gave up their win for Best Picture to the team behind “Moonlight.” This wasn’t just one of the biggest blunders at the Oscars over the past 25 years; it was arguably the biggest mistake in Academy Award history. To this day, some people still believe that the biggest mistake that night was actually giving the Best Picture award to “Moonlight” instead of “La La Land.

1
The Slap (2022)

The slap that made global headlines is the one we’re referring to, and if you were alive during that time, you’d instantly recognize the moment. Comedian Chris Rock is famous for his edgy and controversial humor. During the 94th Academy Awards, he joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s baldness in reference to the movie “G.I. Jane.” While Will Smith chuckled at the joke, Jada was not amused.

In a surprising turn of events, Will Smith strode onto the stage during a live broadcast and struck Chris Rock, delivering a hard blow. Afterward, he returned to his seat and verbally lashed out at Rock, demanding that he refrain from mentioning Smith’s wife. The incident left viewers in awe with their jaws dropped, while the audience fell silent. However, it was Chris Rock who appeared to be the most astonished by the unexpected attack. Despite being struck, he displayed remarkable composure and handled the situation admirably.

At the ceremony, Smith was requested to depart but chose not to. Subsequently, he received the Best Actor award for his performance in “King Richard,” an accolade that some felt was undeservedly met with a standing ovation from the audience. The act of attacking a comedian over a joke is simply appalling. Smith has faced severe consequences for his actions. He stepped down from the Academy and is prohibited from attending any Oscar-related events for a decade. Even after issuing apology messages, Smith’s reputation took a significant blow that evening. His once-wholesome image is in tatters, and numerous projects have distanced themselves from him. The slap at the Oscars is arguably the most jaw-dropping moment in the last 25 years, possibly even in Academy history.

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2025-02-22 19:03