Kanishka Vohra
The Academy Awards, or “Oscars,” are one of the most prestigious honors in the entertainment industry. Every year, the ceremony is filled with glitz, glamour, and memorable moments. But some of these moments are a bit more memorable than others – for all the wrong reasons. Here are 10 of the weirdest Oscar moments of all time.
1. Marlon Brando Rejects His Oscar
Marlon Brando is widely considered one of the greatest actors of all time, and he was awarded an Oscar for his performance in The Godfather in 1973. However, Brando refused to accept the award. Instead, he sent a Native American woman named Sacheen Littlefeather to reject it on his behalf. Littlefeather stated that Brando was rejecting the award in protest of the mistreatment of Native Americans in Hollywood films.
2. Adrien Brody’s Uninvited Kiss
Adrien Brody won the Oscar for Best Actor in 2003 for his performance in The Pianist. His acceptance speech was already memorable due to its length, but it took an even stranger turn when Brody hugged presenter Halle Berry and planted a kiss on her lips. The surprise kiss was unplanned, and Berry seemed taken aback.
3. David Niven’s Interruption
David Niven was presenting the Best Picture award in 1974 when a streaker ran across the stage. The streaker, Robert Opel, was nude except for a tiny pair of underpants and a wide grin. Niven handled the interruption with grace, quipping, “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?”
4. Jack Palance’s Push-Ups
Jack Palance was awarded the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1992 for his performance in City Slickers. During his acceptance speech, he decided to show off his strength by doing one-armed push-ups on the stage. The crowd loved it, and Palance’s impromptu display of athleticism became one of the most memorable moments in Oscar history.
5. Michael Moore’s Political Speech
Michael Moore won the Best Documentary Feature Oscar in 2003 for Bowling for Columbine. During his acceptance speech, he made a passionate plea for peace and the end of the war in Iraq. The speech was met with boos from some in the audience, while others cheered Moore on. Moore later said he felt like he was in the middle of a “cultural civil war.”
6. The Wrong Best Picture Winner
In 2017, the biggest mistake in Oscar history occurred when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway incorrectly announced La La Land as the Best Picture winner. After the cast and crew of La La Land had already given their acceptance speeches, it was revealed that the actual winner was Moonlight. It was an embarrassing mishap for the Academy, and it left the La La Land crew feeling awkward and embarrassed.
7. Rob Lowe’s Duet With Snow White
Rob Lowe was invited to sing a duet with Snow White during the 1989 Academy Awards ceremony. The performance was an attempt to bring a younger audience to the show, but it backfired horribly. The performance was widely panned by critics, who called it “tone deaf” and “awkward.”
8. Hugh Jackman’s Hosting Gig
Hugh Jackman was the host of the 2009 Academy Awards ceremony, and he opened the show with an energetic song-and-dance routine. The routine was strange, to say the least, and it ended with Jackman being chased by an animated version of himself. The bizarre performance was met with a mixture of confusion and laughter.
9. The Infamous Stuntwoman
In 1985, stuntwoman Dar Robinson was invited to the Oscars to present an award. Unfortunately, Robinson was killed in a motorcycle accident earlier that year. To honor Robinson, his stunt double, Gary McLarty, was invited to take his place and present the award. It was an incredibly touching moment, but it was also quite strange.
10. Rob Schneider’s Unwanted Appearance
Rob Schneider was a surprise presenter at the 1998 Academy Awards ceremony. After announcing the nominees for Best Supporting Actor, Schneider took a seat in the audience and began heckling the other presenters. His antics were met with boos from the audience, and he was quickly escorted off the stage.
The Academy Awards are always filled with memorable moments, but some of these moments are more memorable than others. These 10 weirdest Oscar moments will never be forgotten, for better or for worse.
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