Animals were harmed in these films
Many were excited when Kevin Hart was revealed as the 2019 host, until a string of homophobic tweets from his past came to light. The Academy said he could still host if he apologized, but Hart refused, arguing that he'd already addressed the tweets.
One of the first controversial moments happened in 1936. Screenwriter Dudley Nichols (right) turned down an Oscar for 'The Informer.'
In 1986, Cher shocked the world with a jaw-dropping outfit. "As you can see, I did receive my Academy booklet on how to dress like a serious actress," she said. Cher was referencing how she wasn't nominated that year.
In 1974, a streaker named Robert Opel took the stage, ruffling the feathers of David Niven (pictured). "The only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings," said Niven. The streaker got off scot-free, and even held a press conference.
That same year, the cast and crew of 'La La Land' were delighted when they were announced as Best Picture winners. However, in an alleged publicity stunt, it was revealed that it was a mistake, and that 'Moonlight' was the real winner.
Jennifer Lawrence was a lively character at the 2013 Oscars. She fell on the floor, won Best Actress, and flipped off the Hollywood press.
One of the most famous Oscar dresses was worn by Björk. She was draped in a swan dress, and even "laid" an egg on the red carpet.
The world was shocked to see Will Smith march onstage and slap Chris Rock after the comedian made a dig at Jada Pinkett Smith, who struggles with alopecia. "Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2, can't wait to see it, all right?" Rock quipped. Smith went right up to him and slapped Rock in the face. When he returned to his seat, Rock tried to maintain composure and said, "Wow, Will Smith just smacked the s—t out of me!" Smith then yelled back, "Keep my wife's name out of your f—king mouth." Later, Smith won Best Actor for his role in 'King Richard' and apologized for his outburst, relating himself to his winning role. "Art imitates life, I look like the crazy father," he said. "Love will make you do crazy things."
It seems Will Smith's apologies (onstage and on Instagram), and his later decision to resign from the Academy weren't enough to redeem him. The organization decided to ban the actor from events for 10 years. In a statement shared by E! News, Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said, "During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry. This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers and our Academy family around the world, and we fell short—unprepared for the unprecedented." They continued, "This action we are taking today in response to Will Smith's behavior is a step toward a larger goal of protecting the safety of our performers and guests, and restoring trust in the Academy." Smith responded to their conclusion in a statement, saying that he "accepts and respects the Academy's decision."
A friend of Liza Minnelli, the singer and pianist Michael Feinstein, spoke out about the music legend's 2022 appearance when she presented one of the final awards, Best Picture, alongside Lady Gaga. Feinstein claimed that Minnelli was experiencing back trouble at the time and asked to present the award from a director's chair so viewers wouldn't see her limping and worry about her health. Everything was arranged to Minnelli's satisfaction, but according to Feinstein, the producers of the show were shaken up after the slapping incident and made a last-minute change. She was informed that she would have to present the award in a wheelchair just minutes before her appearance. Feinstein says the sudden change of plan made her nervous which added to her looking "out of it" when she appeared on stage in the wheelchair. "Can you imagine being suddenly forced to be seen by millions of people the way you don’t want to be seen? That’s what happened to her," he exclaimed on SiriusXM’s 'The Jess Cagle Show.'
After the outrage over the slap, attention turned to a 1973 incident that didn't get nearly as much as it deserved. Actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather was booed, heckled with mock ululations, and threatened with arrest and physical assault—and all for a 60-second speech protesting Native American mistreatment. John Wayne reportedly had to be restrained from rushing the stage to physically attack her, and the aftermath wasn't any better, as Littlefeather's identity and career were dragged through the mud. Now, nearly 50 years after her undue harassment, the Academy is apologizing.
“The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified,” then-Academy president David Rubin writes in the organization’s apology letter, dated June 18. “The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable. For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration.”
The full statement of apology will be read at the Academy Museum's Indigenous celebration event on September 17, at which Littlefeather will be the guest of honor. “I was stunned. I never thought I’d live to see the day I would be hearing this, experiencing this,” the activist told The Hollywood Reporter of the apology. "When I was at the podium in 1973, I stood there alone.”
As one of the most revered awards shows in Hollywood (the industry that, after all, thrives on drama), it makes sense that the Oscars have their own history of outrageous and salacious controversies.
The dramatic story around the infamous 2022 ceremony when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock continues to evolve, as Rock has finally addressed the moment during his live Netflix special, 'Selective Outrage,' in which he made it clear he's still upset. "You all know what happened to me, getting smacked by 'Suge' Smith," the comedian began. "I got smacked like a year ago… And people are like ‘Did it hurt?’ It still hurts. I got ‘Summertime’ ringing in my ears."
Refusing to keep Will's wife's name out his mouth, Rock dove into Jada Pinkett Smith's affair with her son's friend and how she discussed it with her husband on her 'Red Table Talk' show. "We’ve all been cheated on, everybody in here been cheated on," Rock said. "None of us has ever been interviewed by the person who cheated on us on television… Why the f—k would you do that s—t? She hurt [Will] way more than he hurt me." He continued, "Everybody called [Will] a b—h. And who’s he hit? Me! A n— he know he can beat."
Rock added that he didn't hit Smith back because he parents taught him "Don’t fight in front of white people!" Then he brought the segment to a close by picking at the phrase 'words hurt': "Anybody who says ‘words hurt’ has never been punched in the face." Rock previously down the Academy's offer to return as host in 2023 and explained to an audience at a Phoenix stand-up show that it would be like going back to a crime scene or inviting Nicole Brown Simpson "to go back to the restaurant," reports the Arizonal Republic.
From hilarious host gaffes to loud political statements on the red carpet, the reactions to the Academy Awards can be more entertaining than some of the films themselves. Click through to reminisce on some of the most historic moments.
The most shocking moments in Oscars history
Chris Rock strikes back at Will Smith Oscars slap in new stand-up: "It still hurts"
MOVIES Academy awards
As one of the most revered awards shows in Hollywood (the industry that, after all, thrives on drama), it makes sense that the Oscars have their own history of outrageous and salacious controversies.
The dramatic story around the infamous 2022 ceremony when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock continues to evolve, as Rock has finally addressed the moment during his live Netflix special, 'Selective Outrage,' in which he made it clear he's still upset. "You all know what happened to me, getting smacked by 'Suge' Smith," the comedian began. "I got smacked like a year ago… And people are like ‘Did it hurt?’ It still hurts. I got ‘Summertime’ ringing in my ears."
Refusing to keep Will's wife's name out his mouth, Rock dove into Jada Pinkett Smith's affair with her son's friend and how she discussed it with her husband on her 'Red Table Talk' show. "We’ve all been cheated on, everybody in here been cheated on," Rock said. "None of us has ever been interviewed by the person who cheated on us on television… Why the f—k would you do that s—t? She hurt [Will] way more than he hurt me." He continued, "Everybody called [Will] a b—h. And who’s he hit? Me! A n— he know he can beat."
Rock added that he didn't hit Smith back because he parents taught him "Don’t fight in front of white people!" Then he brought the segment to a close by picking at the phrase 'words hurt': "Anybody who says ‘words hurt’ has never been punched in the face." Rock previously down the Academy's offer to return as host in 2023 and explained to an audience at a Phoenix stand-up show that it would be like going back to a crime scene or inviting Nicole Brown Simpson "to go back to the restaurant," reports the Arizonal Republic.
From hilarious host gaffes to loud political statements on the red carpet, the reactions to the Academy Awards can be more entertaining than some of the films themselves. Click through to reminisce on some of the most historic moments.