The Oscars are Hollywood’s biggest night of celebration, but the ceremonies have had their fair share of controversies over the years.
Some events have left the public shocked, others angry. From unexpected losses to moments that made history for all the wrong reasons, these jarring incidents proved that the Academy Awards are never just about movies.
These are some of the controversies that will forever be etched in the history of the Oscars:
1. Doing the right thing is ignored in 1989 (Snub)
The powerful film by influential American filmmaker and director Spike Lee was left out of the Best Picture race despite massive praise.
Many critics later called it one of the Academy’s biggest mistakes, saying the snub showed a larger problem in the way stories about race are treated.
2. Adrien Brody’s unexpected kiss in 2003 (Controversy)
When Adrien Brody, best known for his role in the pianistHe won Best Actor and surprised viewers by kissing Halle Berry on stage without warning.
However, the moment later sparked massive criticism and conversations about consent, even though it was broadcast live to millions.
3. ‘Brokeback Mountain’ loses in 2006 (Snub)
secret mountainThe romantic drama/tragedy was expected to win Best Picture overall, but lost to Crash, a decision that surprised audiences.
Over time, many critics argued that the loss was due to discomfort with the film’s central love story.
4. The violent reaction to the So White Oscars in 2015 (Controversy)
The 2015 Oscars faced #OscarsSoWhite backlash because none of the nominated actors were people of color.
Activist April Reign lashed out, pointing out that Hollywood still has big problems with diversity.
For the second year in a row, all acting nominees were white. The reaction was so quick and strong that it forced the Academy to admit that there was a serious diversity problem.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s long wait ends in 2016 (Snub)
Fans around the world had been supporting the Titanic actor to obtain his well-deserved award. Many memes were also made at his expense.
It was even his movie. the revenant That’s when DiCaprio finally accepted his trophy.
5. La La Land Moonlight mix-up sparks controversy in 2017
The The Earth was mistakenly announced as Best Picture before Moonlight was revealed as the real winner. Additionally, the mistake was reflected live on stage, triggering one of the most awkward moments in Oscar history.
6. Roman Polanski’s victory causes strikes in 2003 (Controversy)
When Polanski won the award for Best Director, many attendees decided to leave the ceremony, leaving the award to reopen debates about separating art from personal actions.
Earlier, The rosemary baby The director had been charged with six felonies, including unlawful sexual activity with a minor, drugging a minor and having sexual relations with a child.
7. Chadwick Boseman’s shocking loss in 2021 (Snub)
The night was clearly built around the expectation that Boseman would win Best Actor, but when he didn’t, the dramatic ending left viewers confused and disappointed, prompting massive criticism.
8. Andrea Riseborough’s surprise nomination in 2023 (Controversy)
Andrea’s unexpected and shocking nomination for Best Actress raised many questions about private campaigns and justice.
The Academy subsequently analyzed the process, making it one of the most talked-about nominations of the year.
9. ‘Barbie’ reaction to failures in important categories in 2024 (Snub)
Despite the great box office success and cultural impact, Barbie It missed out on key nominations, as fans and critics called it another example of how female-led stories are mostly ignored.
10. Will Smith slaps Chris Rock in 2022 (Controversy)
The Academy Awards were stopped dead when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock live on stage in 2022, leaving the audience and host in complete shock.
Smith later apologized and was banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years. The viral and unexpected moment became one of the most repeated in Oscar history.
Each year, the Oscars continued to promise changes, but these moments showed that controversy was still tied to their history.
For Hollywood, golden statues were never without drama.
