The Oscars may be one of the most prestigious awards ceremonies of all time, but there are many dark moments in the long-running history of the Academy Awards. Since the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929, the Oscars have become one of the most talked-about events of the year in movie circles. In the award ceremony's near-century in existence, it has undergone a number of significant changes in order to reflect the growth of modern society, with the Academy adapting in line with the progression of the film industry.
As a result, many former aspects of the Academy Awards have changed in the years since. Discontinued categories include Best Assistant Director, Best Dance Direction, and the original separation of Best Director into Best Director, Comedy Picture and Best Director, Dramatic Picture. However, there have also been criticisms that the Oscars haven't changed enough, particularly in the Academy's approach to diversity and equality.
Although Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards was a shocking moment, it was far from the first controversy in Oscars history. In fact, the ceremony has often seen controversial and unexpected moments occur, partly due to its unscripted nature and emotions running high for those involved. Other, unfortunately even darker moments have held up a mirror to reflect some of the worst aspects of Hollywood's contentious history.
Marlon Brando Refuses Best Actor Award (1973)
One of the Oscars' darkest chapters came in 1973 when Marlon Brando refused to accept his Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Godfather. Marlon Brando refused his Oscar as a form of protest over Hollywood's issues with the representation of Native Americans in film. Brando sent Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American activist and actor, in his place to decline the award, prompting the crowd to both boo and cheer in response.
After refusing the Oscar on Brando's behalf, Littlefeather reported that John Wayne was being held back by security guards as he attempted to attack her. Clint Eastwood also then mocked Brando and Littlefeather by saying that he'd "present [an] award on behalf of all the cowboys shot in all the John Ford Westerns over the years". Littlefeather's speech (on Brando's behalf) was respectful, making the mockery and danger she faced as a result all the more troubling.
Streaker Interrupts David Niven (1974)
In the awards ceremony's history, the Oscars have seen their fair share of surprising occurrences. However, one of the Oscars' most shocking moments came just one year after Brando's refusal of his award, when David Niven—who won an Oscar himself in 1959 for Best Actor in Separate Tables—was interrupted by a naked man running across the stage. The man turned out to be photographer and gay rights activist Robert Opel, who flashed a peace sign as he ran past a shocked Niven. While the event is likely one of the funniest Oscars mishaps, it's still a somewhat dark moment in the ceremony's history.
Adrien Brody Kisses Halle Berry (2003)
Just one year after her own Oscar win, Halle Berry returned to the Academy Awards to present the award for Best Actor. After announcing the winner as Adrien Brody for his role in The Pianist, an excited Brody ran onstage and ionately kissed Berry without any prior warning or consent. Adrien Brody's role as an Oscar winner may have excited him, but his decision to kiss Berry is one that shocked and confused her. Speaking with Andy Cohen in 2017, Berry said: "I was like, 'what the f*** is going on?!" Brody's kiss was non-consensual and ill-advised and has gone down in history as one of the most bizarre and shocking moments in the Oscars' long history.
Roman Polanski Receives Award After Fleeing The Country (2003)
Also from 2003's 75th Academy Awards, it might be one of the Oscars' darkest ever moments, as it highlights one of the Academy's most-criticized aspects: its willingness to overlook the misdeeds of its . In the years that followed the murder of his wife, Sharon Tate, controversy followed director Roman Polanski. In 1977, after being arrested for drugging and raping a young girl, Polanski pled guilty to the charge of unlawful sex with a minor. However, before he could be sentenced, Polanski fled to Paris to avoid prison.
Polanksi continued his career as a filmmaker, but his work on The Pianist earned him a nomination for Best Director. Polanski ultimately won the award, but was unable to accept it due to his inability to return to the US. While the Academy has since expelled Polanksi and instituted a code of conduct for its in the wake of numerous sexual misconduct allegations, the director's win in 2003 highlighted the blind eye Hollywood turns to the misdeeds of its prominent figures.
Sacha Baron Cohen And “Kim Jong-il's Ashes” (2012)
Actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has made his name with his in-character stunts, but the one he took to the Oscars in 2012 was one of his most memorable. Appearing as his character iral-General Haffaz Aladeen, the actor arrived at the ceremony with an interesting guest: the "ashes" of the late North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-il. Carrying the urn, onto which was printed a picture of Kim Jong-il, the actor claimed he was fulfilling the former politician's dying wish of attending the Oscars.
However, Sacha Baron Cohen's stunt didn't stop there. While he was being interviewed by Ryan Seacrest, he spilled the "ashes" (later revealed to be pancake mix) onto Seacrest. The stunt was one of Baron Cohen's most high-profile examples of dark humor, and while it was ultimately harmless, it was a shocking Oscar moment nonetheless.
No Black Nominees Two Years Running Leads To Boycott (2015/2016)
After all 20 nominees at the 87th Academy awards were of Caucasian descent, a conversation started regarding the lack of diversity and the apparent whitewashing of the awards. This led to the birth of the hashtags "#OscarsSoWhite" and "#WhiteOscars", which were at the heart of a social media movement. This in turn led to calls for the Academy to make adjustments to become more diverse and to better represent all people.
However, the 88th Academy Awards repeated the mistakes of the previous year - all 20 actors and four of five directors were Caucasian. This led to a boycott of the ceremony led by Jada Pinkett Smith and award-winning director Spike Lee, and a scathing joke from that year's host, Chris Rock, about the lack of diversity within the Academy. It's one of the most obvious instances of the Oscars' lack of racial diversity, and it saw the Academy face significant criticism.
Wrong Best Picture Winner Announced (2017)
As with any live show, there is always bound to be some mix-ups, but the error during the 89th Academy Awards in 2017 lives on in infamy. Presenting the year's award for Best Picture, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway hesitantly announced La La Land as the winner. It wasn't until La La Land's producers were making their acceptance speech that the error was clarified. This resulted in the actual Best Picture winner, Moonlight, being announced shortly after. The mistake was clarified, but the glaring error became one of the biggest and most memorable Oscar mishaps in the history of the ceremony. While it may not have been the darkest or most shocking moment, it was an unexpected and confusing mistake and thoroughly embarrassing for everyone involved.
Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock (2022)
In perhaps one of the most shocking Oscar moments of all time, the Oscars 2022 also delivered a dark chapter in the Academy Awards' long history. After comedian Chris Rock made a joke at the expense of Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith walked on stage and slapped Rock across the face. Will Smith slapping Chris Rock may have been surprising, but the actor's angry comments after returning to his seat were expletive-filled and equally shocking.
Smith then won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in King Richard. He apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees while making his acceptance speech, but his actions still proved divisive. The moment was globally televised, and it tarnished Smith's first Oscar win, with many calling for Smith to return the award, adding to a long history of dark moments in the Oscars.
