Vanity Fair’s Oscar Party: Billionaires, Rock Royalty, and a Teary Jenna Ortega

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Oscar night is all about timing.

The goal is to be at the perfect party, making sure you’re there when it’s at its climax or even just before, securely positioned where the energy is palpable and people are holding 8.5-pound golden statues, all while leaving before the dance floor starts thinning out, so you can jump on the bandwagon of Hollywood’s next big event.

(Or more casually:)

You want to be at the hottest party, showing up just as it hits its stride or a bit before, finding your spot where the energy is high and people are holding those 8.5-pound golden statues, and bouncing out before things start winding down, so you can hop on the next big thing’s train on Hollywood’s biggest night.

As an enthusiastic admirer, I’m privileged to be among the select few journalists granted access to various Oscar night events. This fortunate circumstance keeps me on my toes with a bustling itinerary that includes the Academy’s Governors Ball post-show, the Elton John AIDS Foundation viewing party, or Vanity Fair, to name a few. More exclusive invitations, such as Madonna and Guy Oseary’s The Party, or Beyoncé and Jay Z’s Gold Party, are off-limits for media coverage. Late-night soirees provide A-list stars, directors, and the glamorous crowd with a much-needed respite from the press lines, cameras, and interview requests. After a season marred by scandals, it’s no wonder they seek such sanctuaries.

Vanity Fair continues to be the premier destination, even amidst fierce competition from other notable figures in pop and Beyoncé. While other events may attract attention, Vanity Fair remains the ultimate gathering place as it’s the only event where you’ll find an impressive collection of A-list celebrities all in one location, albeit temporarily assembled next to the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. The event on Sunday night was graced by billionaires (Jeff Bezos, Sergey Brin), music legends (Mick Jagger, Debbie Harry), pop sensations (Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus), fashion icons (Tom Ford, Donatella Versace), comedians (Chris Rock, Nate Bargatze), models (Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber), agency heads (WME’s Richard Weitz, CAA’s Kevin Huvane), producers (Ben Winston, Jeremy Kleiner), sports stars (Russell Westbrook, Russell Wilson), multi-talented individuals (Steph Curry, Kim Kardashian) and one true legend (Serena Williams).

Typically, the event commenced in the afternoon with an exclusive dinner and viewing party for nearly 100 attendees, graced by A-listers. It was reported that Mick Jagger was among those present at the dinner, frequently glancing at his watch to ensure he’d be on time for the Dolby Theatre, where he presented the award for Best Original Song. During a buzzworthy segment, Jagger casually mentioned that Bob Dylan, who served as inspiration for James Mangold’s ‘A Complete Unknown’ and Timothee Chalamet’s five-year preparation, had been invited to host the event but declined the offer. Following his presentation to the team behind “El Mal,” Jagger returned to Vanity Fair, rubbing shoulders with Bezos, Kardashian, Williams, Sarah Paulson, Chris Rock, and Rita Ora.

11 PM saw the arrival of The Hollywood Reporter, an ideal hour for observant reporting. Michael Urie had stepped onto a glittering 130-foot gold and silver striped carpet, marking his debut at this exclusive affair. Much like others in the industry, he attended sans plus-one, a common practice here. Time is working in his favor, as the seasoned actor is currently shining on the critically-acclaimed series “Shrinking” and will soon lead the GLAAD Media Awards.

Besides Kylie Jenner, other frequent attendees this year include Timothée Chalamet, who came accompanied by his current boyfriend. They were seen sitting together in a booth along with Chalamet’s fellow cast members from “A Complete Unknown,” such as Monica Barbaro (who spent much of the evening close to her rumored partner Andrew Garfield) and Elle Fanning.

The youngest of the Fanning siblings warmly embraced Barbaro and expressed her joy – “It’s fantastic to see you!” – at almost the same moment as Brandi Carlile navigated through the crowd with her spouse Catherine. Fresh from Elton John’s AIDS Foundation event in West Hollywood Park, where Chappell Roan put on an electrifying headlining act and celebrated John as a trailblazing gay icon, Carlile remarked. “The way she honored him was simply beautiful,” she said. “She’s such a shining star.” As Carlile passed by, her fellow original song nominee Diane Warren couldn’t help but comment, “We all feel defeated.

Many people walked away winners, while others left the event empty-handed. Demi Moore, nominated for Best Actress, who had seemed almost certain to conclude her impressive awards season journey with an Oscar win, was not seen sulking but instead was mingling, accompanied by her three daughters. She was receiving warm embraces and words of comfort from fellow A-list celebrities.

Or, in a more concise version:

Many won, while some went home empty-handed. Demi Moore, almost certain to win the Best Actress Oscar after her stellar awards season, wasn’t seen moping but instead was socializing with her daughters and accepting sympathetic hugs from fellow A-listers.

Despite his female companion’s persistent urging to share a bottle of champagne, Lil Nas X refused at a secluded bar in the courtyard. “I have a photo shoot tomorrow,” he explained, sounding enthusiastic. He then politely requested the bartender to serve him water in a champagne glass instead. Meanwhile, actors Drew Starkey and Omar Apollo, both from the LGBTQ+ community, sat down at a custom pizza bar by renowned L.A. chef Evan Funke and chose two slices of pizza each.

Despite the usual bustling crowd at the courtyard and Funke’s pizza corner, the chilly weather kept most people indoors. The cold temperatures were not favorable for the numerous exposed dresses seen within the party. Ciara was spotted in another see-through outfit at the Vanity Fair event, where she attended with husband Russell Wilson again. Although Russell Wilson has yet to secure a new contract, he demonstrated his athletic prowess by swiftly chasing after a server and snatching a tray of In-N-Out burgers.

Just a few steps away, another remarkable sports figure, Coco Gauff, bent down to capture an impromptu shot of Halle Bailey. Right before them, Netflix’s dominant content chief Bela Bajaria was deep in conversation with comedy sensation Nate Bargatze, while Conan O’Brien strolled by. The host paused for a warm embrace and friendly chat. “I adore Conan,” presenter Rachel Zegler shared with THR when asked about her thoughts on the show, having experienced it from within the Dolby. “I’m a massive Conan fan.

Inside the main party area, a group gathered near the entrance, attracting attention due to a continuous flashing of cameras. It was an opportune moment to check it out. At the heart of the throng were Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison, each holding their awards and attended by their entourages. The scene was electric. “This is the moment,” a sophisticated partygoer aptly told THR as she took in the spectacle.

As the hour hand moved past midnight, Madison accumulated even more admirers. When the Anora star entered the courtyard, it drew a crowd that included Kelvin Harrison Jr., Danny Ramirez, and Colman Domingo among others. However, Jenna Ortega found an opportunity to speak privately with Madison, expressing her congratulations and sharing heartfelt words for several minutes. This interaction left Ortega visibly emotional and tearful as she expressed her affection. Meanwhile, DJ Politik’s voice echoed from within the Club VF, a temporary dance venue, urging everyone to raise their Oscars if they had one. At that instant, Madison’s awards were being held by her dedicated publicist Nicki Fioravante.

Although numerous Oscar-winning celebrities were still in contention, no gold statues could be spotted reaching towards the night sky from Madison’s corner in the courtyard. However, THR spotted Queen Latifah and her partner, Eboni Nichols, heading towards the exit where they waited by the curb for their SUV, alongside Jodie Turner-Smith. After being praised for her tribute performance of “Ease on Down the Road” honoring Quincy Jones, Latifah graciously acknowledged the compliment, and Nichols beamed with pride as she said, “She certainly eased down the road smoothly.” And indeed, they both followed suit as their vehicle arrived.

As the hour grew late, around 1 a.m., it felt like the appropriate moment to depart. However, this wasn’t the case for everyone. A valet driver called out, “Final call for Natasha Lyonne!” and repeated, “One more chance for Natasha Lyonne!” in a loud voice.

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2025-03-04 08:25