<p id=”par-1_40″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/oscars/”>The Oscars</a> are known for celebrating the best in film. However, they’ve also delivered some of the most shocking, bizarre, and cringe-worthy moments in Hollywood history. From unexpected blunders to outrageous speeches, here are the Oscars’ most head-shaking moments ever.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-warren-beatty-faye-dunaway-s-envelope-mix-up-2017″>Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway’s envelope mix-Up (2017)</h2>
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<iframe title='”Moonlight” wins Best Picture | 89th Oscars (2017)’ width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/GCQn_FkFElI?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-2_74″>In one of the biggest blunders in <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/academy-awards-same-oscars-answer-controversial.html/?swcfpc=1″>Academy Awards history</a>, the 2017 ceremony ended in utter chaos when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway mistakenly announced <em>La La Land</em> as the Best Picture winner instead of the actual winner, <em>Moonlight</em>. As the <em>La La Land</em> team gave their acceptance speeches, producers rushed to the stage to correct the error, leaving the audience stunned. The moment quickly became one of the most talked-about in Oscar history.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-will-smith-s-shocking-slap-2022″>Will Smith’s shocking slap (2022)</h2>
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<iframe title=”Watch the uncensored moment Will Smith smacks Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars, drops F-bomb” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/myjEoDypUD8?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-3_60″>The 2022 Oscars took a dramatic turn when Will Smith stormed the stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock after Rock made a <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/jada-pinkett-smith-will-smith-chris-rock-oscars-slap.html/?swcfpc=1″>joke about Jada Pinkett Smith</a>’s shaved head. This <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/will-smith-chris-rock-oscar-slap-a-rage-that-had-been-bottled-for-a-really-long-time.html/?swcfpc=1″>unexpected act of violence</a> stunned the audience and overshadowed the rest of the evening. It led to Smith’s resignation from the Academy and a 10-year ban from attending the event.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-john-travolta-s-adele-dazeem-mishap-2014″>John Travolta’s “Adele Dazeem” mishap (2014)</h2>
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<iframe loading=”lazy” title=”Idina Menzel’s Revenge on John Travolta at the 2015 Oscars” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/hxLb-AJ6iog?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-4_66″>While introducing Idina Menzel for her performance of <em>Let It Go</em> from <em>Frozen</em>, John Travolta inexplicably <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/idina-menzel-says-adele-dazeem-oscars-moment-greatest-thing-ever-happened.html/”>mispronounced her name as “Adele Dazeem.”</a> The mistake instantly went viral, sparking countless memes and even inspiring a name generator. Travolta later apologized, but the flub remains one of the most awkward moments in Oscar history. She returned the favor in 2015 by introducing him as “Glam Gazingo Aden Manzel.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-marlon-brando-s-rejects-his-oscar-1973″>Marlon Brando’s rejects his Oscar (1973)</h2>
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<iframe loading=”lazy” title=”Marlon Brando’s Best Actor Oscar win for “The Godfather” | Sacheen Littlefeather” width=”925″ height=”694″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/2QUacU0I4yU?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-5_67″>Marlon Brando made a powerful statement at the 1973 Oscars when he declined his Best Actor award for <em>The Godfather</em>. Instead of attending, he sent Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather to the stage to reject the Oscar on his behalf in protest of Hollywood’s treatment of Indigenous people. The moment was met with a mix of boos and applause, making it a controversial moment in Academy history.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-rob-lowe-s-bizarre-musical-number-1989″>Rob Lowe’s bizarre musical number (1989)</h2>
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<p id=”par-6_65″>The 1989 Oscars opened with a cringe-worthy 11-minute musical number featuring Rob Lowe singing alongside a woman dressed as Snow White. The bizarre performance left audiences baffled and was widely panned as one of the worst moments in Oscar history. Disney eventually sued the Academy for using the Snow White character without permission. The Academy apologized to Disney and took steps to resolve the matter.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-the-streaker-incident-1974″>The streaker incident (1974)</h2>
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<iframe loading=”lazy” title=”The Oscars Streaker | 46th Oscars (1974)” width=”925″ height=”694″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/EWBc-ir6IFM?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-7_69″>During the 1974 Academy Awards, as host David Niven was about to introduce Elizabeth Taylor, a naked man ran across the stage flashing a peace sign. Without missing a beat, Niven quipped, “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?” The quick-witted remark remains one of the most legendary Oscar comebacks.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-angelina-jolie-s-awkward-kiss-with-her-brother-2000″>Angelina Jolie’s awkward kiss with her brother (2000)</h2>
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<iframe loading=”lazy” title=”Angelina Jolie Wins Best Supporting Actress | 72nd Oscars (2000)” width=”925″ height=”694″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/EPWpHWr1L7s?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-8_60″>Angelina Jolie raised eyebrows at the 2000 Oscars when she kissed her brother, James Haven, on the lips after winning an Oscar in the category of Best Supporting Actress for <em>Girl, Interrupted</em>. She also declared, “I’m so in love with my brother right now.” The moment left audiences perplexed and fueled years of speculation and tabloid headlines about their relationship.</p>
<p id=”par-9_23″>The Oscars airs Mar. 2, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET on ABC. The live show can also be viewed on ABC.com and Hulu.</p>