The Oscars first premiered in 1929 — and many of Hollywood's most controversial moments have happened on that prestigious stage
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Most recently, actress Karla Sofia Gascón attended the 2025 Oscars following backlash over old social media posts
The 98th annual Academy Awards will take place on March 15
When the biggest names in Hollywood come together for theAcademy Awards, the night rarely unfolds exactly as planned.
The Oscars, which began in 1929, have long been considered the film industry's most prestigious celebration. Actors, directors and creatives arrive in glamorous fashion to honor the movies that shaped the year in cinema.
But the Academy Awards have also built a reputation for the unexpected — delivering jaw-dropping moments that people are still talking about long after the final envelope is opened.
From theLa La Land/Moonlightmix-up for Best PicturetoWill Smith'sslap heard around the world, the Oscars have delivered some of pop culture's most unforgettable controversies.
Ahead of the 98th annual Academy Awards on March 15, here's everything to know about 10 of the biggest Oscars controversies.
Hattie McDaniel's plaque for her groundbreaking win went missing
Hattie McDanielmade history in 1940 when she was named Best Supporting Actress for her role in 1939'sGone With the Wind, becoming the first-ever Black actor to win an Oscar. With strict segregation rules at the time, the actress was forced to sit at a separate table on the far side of the room.
But the shock didn't stop there. When McDaniel died in 1952, she willed her plaque (trophies were not awarded to supporting actors at the time) to Howard University. However, it was lost shortly after, disappearing from the school's fine arts building, perNPR.
According to the outlet, the Academy replaced the award in 2023, and the school held an accompanying ceremony to honor her life and career.
Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn tying for Best Actress
In 1969, audiences were shocked when the Oscars had its first tie:Barbra StreisandandKatharine Hepburnhad both won the award for Best Actress. Streisand was nominated for her debut performance inFunny Girl, while Hepburn earned a nod for forThe Lion in Winter.
However, only one actress — Streisand — took the stage to accept the award. Hepburn hadn't shown up in the past to accept her trophies, and this time around was no different.
Marlon Brando declining his award for Best Actor
Marlon Brandowon Best Actor for his role in 1972'sThe Godfatherin 1973. But when it came time to accept the honor, Native American activistSacheen Littlefeatherstood in his place and explained that Brando wasboycotting the eventand rejecting his trophy.
In place of what would have been his acceptance speech, the actor had written a 15-page letter for Littlefeather to read about his objections to Native American on-screen representation.
Robert Opel running naked across the stage
In 1974, the Oscars went from PG to R-rated when English teacher Robert Opel ran across the stage naked while host David Niven was presenting.
Years later, his nephew opened up about Opel's streak in the documentaryUncle Bob, sharing that it was a demonstration of performance art and "a social comment," perEntertainment Weekly.
Angelina Jolie thanking her brother — with a kiss
Angelina Joliemade headlines when she shared an intimate — and controversial — moment with her brother,James Haven, at the 72nd Academy Awards in 2000.
Ahead of the ceremony, Jolie kissed Haven on the lips while walking the red carpet. When she won her Oscar forGirl, Interrupted, she said in her acceptance speech that she was "in shock" and "so in love with my brother right now."
"He just held me and said he loved me and I know he's so happy for me, and thank you for that," Jolie continued.
The actress reflected on her acceptance speech in an interview withVoguetwo years later, clarifying, "Saying I'm 'in love' with him is just an expression."
Jolie continued, "What I meant was, in this moment, with all this s--- going on, all that matters to me is that guy sitting right there who has stood by me and is so f---ing happy for me."
Adrien Brody kissing Halle Berry onstage
In 2003, while accepting the Oscar for Best Actor for his role inThe Pianist,Adrien Brodyfamously kissed presenterHalle Berry.
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"I bet they didn't tell you that was in the gift bag," he joked.
During an August 2017 appearance onWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Berry revealed that the moment was "not planned" and she "knew nothing about it."
"I was like, 'What the f--- is happening right now?' That is what was going through my mind," Berry said. "And because I was there the year before and I know the feeling of being out of your body, I just f---ing went with it. But I was like, 'What the f--- is going on right now?' "
Eight years later, Brody reflected on the moment in an interview withVariety.
"We live in a very conscious time, which is a wonderful thing," the actor said. "And nothing that I ever do or have done or would've done is ever done with the intention of making anyone feel bad."
Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty accidentally announcing 'La La Land' as Best Picture
The 2017 Best Picture mix-up — a.k.a.envelopegate— will forever go down as one of the most jaw-dropping moments in Oscars history.
WhenBonnie and ClydestarsFaye DunawayandWarren Beattywere invited to announce the award for Best Picture in 2017, they were accidentally given the envelope for Best Actress, which had gone toEmma Stonefor her starring role inLa La Land.
The mix-up sparked confusion, leading Beatty to announceLa La Landas the Best Picture winner.
Producer Jordan Horowitz was in the middle of his acceptance speech when someone backstage yelled, "Oh my God, it's notLa La Land, it'sMoonlight!"
The cast ofMoonlightthen took the stage where Horowitz passed off the award to directorBarry Jenkins, who proceeded to give a speech of his own.
The 2015 Oscars nominations leading the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite to go viral on Twitter
The Academy Awards has faced a lot of backlash for lack of diversity over the years, but perhaps the height of it came in 2015 after all the acting nominations went to White actors.
Social media user April Reign then coined the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite on X, calling attention to the lack of nods for people of color in the award ceremony (and in Hollywood as a whole).
The hashtag was revived again the following year when, again, no actors of color were nominated, leading academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs to release a statement in which she said the organization would be "takingdramatic steps to alter the makeupof our membership."
Will Smith slapping Chris Rock onstage
Among the most startling Oscars moments came in 2022, when Smith angrily responded to a joke made by hostChris Rockwith a slap.
Rock was introducing the award for Best Documentary and joked to Smith's wifeJada Pinkett Smithin the audience, saying, "Jada, I love ya.G.I. Jane 2, can't wait to see ya." (Pinkett Smith was sporting a shaved head at the time and hasbeen open about her struggles with alopecia.)
Just moments later, Smith walked on stage and slapped him across the face. "Oh wow," Rock said shortly after. "Will Smith just smacked the s--- out of me."
Once Smith made it back to his seat, he yelled up to the stage, "Keep my wife's name out your f---ing mouth!"
While Rock deemed it the "greatest night in the history of television," Smith later called it a "horrific night" andapologized. The incident also led Smith to bebanned from the Oscarsfor 10 years.
Karla Sofia Gascón attending the Oscars following her controversial tweets
Ahead of the 97th annual Academy Awards, a source told PEOPLE thatEmilia PérezstarKarla Sofía Gascónplanned to attend the ceremony, despite skipping several major awards shows following the backlash of past offensive tweets, which included comments about Muslim culture,George Floyd, diversity at the Oscars and more.
She had previously vowed to sit back during the award season, writing onInstagramthat she hoped her "silence will allow the film to be appreciatedfor what it is, a beautiful ode to love and difference."
Gascón was nominated for Best Actress for her leading role inEmilia Pérez, making history as thefirst openly transgender star to be consideredfor the category.
Sheattended the Oscars ceremonybut skipped the red carpet and ultimately did not take home the award.
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