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40 Controversial Moments From Awards Shows That Viewers Won’t Ever Forget
Entertainment,CelebritiesMAR 20, 2025

40 Controversial Moments From Awards Shows That Viewers Won’t Ever Forget

Donata Ruzgaitė
Adelaide May Ross
Donata Ruzgaitė and Adelaide May Ross
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"And the Academy Award for 'Messiest Moment During an Awards Season' goes to…"
Audiences love drama; there’s no question about it. That’s why heart-wrenching, three hour long tragedies are always revered by critics. But reality is often stranger, and more entertaining, than fiction. So viewers will eat up any scandalous content they can find, especially if it’s unscripted. 
Bored Panda has compiled a list of the most shocking and controversial moments from past awards shows and seasons below. So enjoy scrolling through these scandals that had viewers’ jaws on the floor, and be sure to upvote the ones that you’ll never forget!

#1 Host David Niven Gets A Surprise While Introducing Elizabeth Taylor At The 46th Academy Awards

Host David Niven Gets A Surprise While Introducing Elizabeth Taylor At The 46th Academy Awards
On April 2, 1974, Opel apparently posed as a journalist to gain entry to the stage at the 46th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. He ran naked past David Niven flashing a peace sign while Niven was introducing Elizabeth Taylor.
After breaking into laughter momentarily, Niven regained his composure, turned to the audience and quipped, "Well, ladies and gentlemen, that was almost bound to happen... But 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?"
Oscars, wikipedia
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62points

#2 Marlon Brando's Best Actor Oscar Win For "The Godfather"

Marlon Brando's Best Actor Oscar Win For "The Godfather"
In 1973, Marlon Brando won Best Actor for The Godfather, but he famously sent activist and National Native American Affirmative Image Committee president Sacheen Littlefeather to decline the award on his behalf.
Oscars
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49points

#3 2020: The Lights Went Down In The Middle Of Parasite's Best Picture Acceptance Speech

2020: The Lights Went Down In The Middle Of Parasite's Best Picture Acceptance Speech
Parasite's Best Picture win was a huge deal: it marked the first time a non-English language film took home the top honor. When the cast and crew headed onstage to accept the award, which was one of six the movie won through the night, coproducer Kwak Sin-ae first took the mic and spoke for 45 seconds before turning things over to Miky Lee, the film's other producer.
But before Lee got to deliver her speech, the lights went down on the stage and cameras focused on Jane Fonda, who was slated to deliver the night's closing remarks. The audience was instantly outraged, and stars like Tom Hanks and Charlize Theron, who were sitting in the front row, started chanting "Up! Up!" to persuade the showrunners to turn the attention back to Parasite.
Luckily the cheers worked, and Lee was able to deliver her remarks.
Oscars
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49points

The 2025 awards season has just recently wrapped up, and we now have to wait another year before films start getting Oscar buzz and performers begin campaigning for their Emmys, Grammys, Golden Globes, Academy Awards and more. And although these televised events have become staples in the entertainment industry, they weren’t always around.

According to Britannica, the Academy of Motion Picture Awards and Sciences was founded in 1927. But it wasn’t until a year later that the academy approved 12 categories to present Awards of Merit for. Today, however, there are 23 categories ranging from Best Picture to Best Makeup & Hairstyling. These prestigious awards are exclusively given to those working in film, but they’re far from the only recognition artists can receive.  

#4 Julie Andrews - Golden Globes Acceptance Speech 1964

Julie Andrews - Golden Globes Acceptance Speech 1964
In 1965, Julie Andrews won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical for her work in Mary Poppins. While accepting her award, Andrews shaded My Fair Lady producer Jack Warner by thanking him for making this possible. Despite her success playing the role of Eliza Doolittle on Broadway, Warner notably didn't cast Andrews in the film adaptation and instead went with Audrey Hepburn, citing that they needed "a name." Ultimately, Andrews and Hepburn were pitted against each other all awards season, with Andrews winning both the Globe and Oscar for Mary Poppins.
Broadway Classixs
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43points

#5 In 1985, Betty Thomas Won Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series For Her Work In Hill Street Blues. However, Before She Could Actually Reach The Stage To Accept Her Award, A Random Man Jumped Up On Stage And Told The Audience That She Could Not Be There And Accepted On Her Behalf

In 1985, Betty Thomas Won Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series For Her Work In Hill Street Blues. However, Before She Could Actually Reach The Stage To Accept Her Award, A Random Man Jumped Up On Stage And Told The Audience That She Could Not Be There And Accepted On Her Behalf
The audience went along with it until they saw a very confused Thomas. The broadcast reportedly quickly cut to a commercial break and then Thomas gave her speech when the show returned. According to the LA Times, he was later arrested backstage.
Ron Galella
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38points

#6 Bruce Rosenblum's Presentation At The 66th Emmy Awards

Bruce Rosenblum's Presentation At The 66th Emmy Awards
During the 2014 Emmys, Bruce Rosenblum, who was then president of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, gave a speech about the state of the television industry. As a joke to get more viewers interested in the speech, Sofía Vergara stood on a rotating pedestal and showed off her curves as Rosenblum delivered his remarks. The joke instantly caused controversy, with some saying it promoted objectification. Despite the backlash, Vergara stood by the joke. When asked if she thought the stunt was sexist, Vergara said, "I think it's absolutely the opposite. It means that somebody can be hot and also be funny and make fun of herself."
Television Academy
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37points

Another prominent awards show is the Golden Globes. This program has been around since 1944, when an informal ceremony was held at 20th Century Fox. Over time, however, the awards show has evolved into the televised event that it is today, honoring films, television series and stand-up comedy shows.

Unlike the Oscars, the Golden Globes separates the best film, actor and actress nominees into two categories: drama and musical or comedy. This way, films of completely different genres don’t have to compete with one another, and twice as many performers have the opportunity to take home a prestigious award.  

#7 Kanye West Interrupts Taylor Swift At The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards

Kanye West Interrupts Taylor Swift At The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards
In 2009, Taylor Swift won Best Female Video for "You Belong with Me" at the MTV Video Music Awards. While on stage accepting her award, Kanye West notably went on stage, took the microphone, and said, "You, Taylor, I'm really happy for you. I'mma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time." Beyoncé was nominated in the same category for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." Ye left the stage and was reportedly removed from the venue. This moment kicked off a decades-spanning feud between Swift and Ye.
OCCULT
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35points

#8 In 2013, Seth Macfarlane Hosted The Oscars For The First Time. During His Opening Monologue, Macfarlane Sang A Song Titled "We Saw Your Chest," Where He Listed Out Movies That Featured Bare Scenes From Famous Actresses

In 2013, Seth Macfarlane Hosted The Oscars For The First Time. During His Opening Monologue, Macfarlane Sang A Song Titled "We Saw Your Chest," Where He Listed Out Movies That Featured Bare Scenes From Famous Actresses
While he was singing, the camera notably panned the audience to some of the celebs he was mentioning, like Charlize Theron. Women both in the audience and at home were angered and "shocked."
Moreorlez
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34points

#9 Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock At The 2022 Oscars

Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock At The 2022 Oscars
In 2022, Chris Rock was on stage at the Oscars to present Best Documentary Feature. He made a joke directed at Jada Pinkett Smith, who was sitting in the audience with Will Smith, comparing her shaved head to that of Demi Moore's character in G.I. Jane. Moments later, Smith got up on stage and slapped Rock. He then returned to his seat but continued yelling at Rock, saying, "Keep my wife's name out your mouth!" About 40 minutes later, Smith won his first Oscar for Best Actor for his work in King Richard.
SimonTime
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33points

If you frequent your own living room much more often than you make it to the movie theatre, you might be more interested in the Emmys than the Oscars or Golden Globes. These awards are exclusively for achievements in television. Emmys cover a range of categories, including dramatic series, comedy series, special drama, limited series, music, comedy, special achievement, creative arts and technical categories. 

This awards show has been running since 1949, and now, there are even separate ceremonies for news and documentaries, daytime programming, prime-time programming and even sports. 

#10 Jennifer Lawrence Stumbled And Fell While Climbing The Stairs To Accept Her Best Actress Award At The 2013 Oscars

Jennifer Lawrence Stumbled And Fell While Climbing The Stairs To Accept Her Best Actress Award At The 2013 Oscars
Though initially embarrassed, Jennifer Lawrence quickly laughed it off and began thanking everyone: "Thank you so much," she said. "This is crazy. You’re only standing because I fell and you feel bad. That was embarrassing." She also thanked her co-stars, crew, and team, before wishing Amour star Emmanuelle Riva a happy 86th birthday.
Oscars
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33points

#11 Jennifer Lopez Grammys Green Dress

Jennifer Lopez Grammys Green Dress
In 2000, Jennifer Lopez notably attended the Grammy Awards wearing a green Versace silk chiffon dress that was cut very low. At the time, the dress was considered pretty scandalous, with Lopez's then-stylist reportedly trying to stop her from wearing it because other celebs had already worn it. "It caused, you know, quite a stir," Lopez recalled to Vogue. Lopez wearing the dress literally led to the invention of Google Images, with people wanting to SEE the look, not just read about it.
Recording Academy / GRAMMYs
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31points

#12 Evanescence Grammy Win For Best New Artist 2004

Evanescence Grammy Win For Best New Artist 2004
In 2004, Evanescence won Best New Artist at the Grammys, beating out 50 Cent, Fountains of Wayne, Heather Headley, and Sean Paul. While they were on stage accepting the award, 50 Cent got up on stage, too, and crossed behind the band. Lead singer Amy Lee shrugged it off and thanked him before jumping into an acceptance speech. While getting his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020, 50 Cent alluded to still being annoyed at this loss, saying, "You got the largest debut hip hop album [but] you don't got no Best New Artist trophy. The Best New Artist, they gave that s**t to Evanescence."
Junior Evans
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30points

If you’re more interested in listening to your favorite band's new album than watching an awards show all about film and TV, then you might love watching the Grammys. This awards show has been around since 1959, and it’s all about celebrating achievements in music. The most notable awards include Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist. The televised program also always includes a few performances from nominated artists that are sure to be entertaining!

#13 Roberto Benigni Climbs Over Seats To Reach The Podium (1999 Oscars)

Roberto Benigni Climbs Over Seats To Reach The Podium (1999 Oscars)
At the 71st Academy Awards in 1999, Roberto Benigni created one of the most chaotic and over-the-top moments in Oscar history. When Life Is Beautiful won Best Foreign Language Film, he climbed over chairs in an exaggerated display of excitement, flailing his arms as the audience reacted with a mix of laughter and surprise. His unrestrained antics continued on stage, where his speech—though heartfelt—felt more like a spectacle than a traditional acceptance. While some found his enthusiasm charming, others saw it as needlessly theatrical, making it one of the most divisive moments in Oscar history.
Oscars
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30points

#14 In 2017, While Presenting The Award For Best Picture At The Oscars, Faye Dunaway And Warren Beatty Accidentally Announced La La Land As The Winner

In 2017, While Presenting The Award For Best Picture At The Oscars, Faye Dunaway And Warren Beatty Accidentally Announced La La Land As The Winner
The producers and cast got on stage before an Oscars crew member came on stage and explained there was a mixup. La La Land producer Jordan Horowitz notably stepped up to the mic and proclaimed that Moonlight had actually won the award and even flashed the envelope. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Beatty was handed the wrong envelope. It was the one that contained the name of the Best Actress winner, Emma Stone, for La La Land.
Oscars
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28points

#15 In 2008, Katherine Heigl Made Headlines After It Was Revealed That She Wasn't Going To Submit Herself For The Emmy Awards For Her Work On Grey's Anatomy

In 2008, Katherine Heigl Made Headlines After It Was Revealed That She Wasn't Going To Submit Herself For The Emmy Awards For Her Work On Grey's Anatomy
At the time, Heigl said, "I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination, and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention." After this statement, Grey's producers and writers were reportedly "angered" by this and considered it a "slap in the face" to their hard work. Heigl had won an Emmy the previous year for her work in Season 3.
erikin18
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27points

Now, it’s not surprising that many people in the entertainment industry dabble in several different art forms. They might be an actor first yet record music on the side. Or they might make their living as a touring musician but pick up a few acting gigs whenever they have the chance. And sometimes, artists excel so much in each field that they end up earning their EGOT, or winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award.  

#16 When The Academy Announced Its 2015 Nominees, All 20 Of The Acting Nominees Were White. In Response, April Reign Created The #oscarssowhite Movement To Call Out The Egregious Lack Of Diversity. She Tweeted, "#oscarssowhite They Asked To Touch My Hair." By Lunchtime, The Hashtag Was Trending

When The Academy Announced Its 2015 Nominees, All 20 Of The Acting Nominees Were White. In Response, April Reign Created The #oscarssowhite Movement To Call Out The Egregious Lack Of Diversity. She Tweeted, "#oscarssowhite They Asked To Touch My Hair." By Lunchtime, The Hashtag Was Trending
Selma director Ava DuVernay told the New York Times, "It was a catalyst for a conversation about what had really been a decades-long absence of diversity and inclusion."
April said, "It could’ve been a bunch of different things — there were no women in the directors category, there were no visibly disabled people nominated — so #OscarsSoWhite has never just been about race. It’s about the underrepresentation of all marginalized groups."
reignofapril, The Washington Post
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27points

#17 The 1983 Gala Is Remembered For Its Presenters, Joan Rivers And Eddie Murphy, Who Offered One Of The Most Criticized Ceremonies , Riddled With Insults And Irreverence

The 1983 Gala Is Remembered For Its Presenters, Joan Rivers And Eddie Murphy, Who Offered One Of The Most Criticized Ceremonies , Riddled With Insults And Irreverence
However, most of the night is remembered for the vulgar language used by both comedians, but mostly Rivers. Not only was the duo an odd pairing from the start, but Rivers shocked the audience by delivering several offensive jokes. There was notably one about "a Black, a Jew, two women, and a cripple," that many deemed extremely inappropriate.
Television Academy
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26points

#18 Adrien Brody Kissing Halle Berry

Adrien Brody Kissing Halle Berry
t the 2003 Academy Awards, Halle Berry presented Adrien Brody with Best Actor. Onstage, he kissed her suddenly and unexpected, and she just went with it.
Oscars
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26points

Tony awards are given out for achievements in stage performances on Broadway. So for a performer to get their coveted EGOT, they must work in TV, film and theatre. It’s quite rare to snag all four prestigious awards, but some stars have managed to do it. Among them are Elton John, Viola Davis, Jennifer Hudson, Alan Menken, John Legend, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Whoopi Goldberg, Audrey Hepburn, Liza Minnelli, James Earl Jones, Barbara Streisand, Rita Moreno and Mel Brooks.

#19 Madonna, Britney Spears, And Christina Aguilera Kiss (2003 Vmas)

Madonna, Britney Spears, And Christina Aguilera Kiss (2003 Vmas)
Twenty years ago today, one of the most iconic performances in MTV Video Music Awards history graced our television screens—and went on to cause a worldwide stir. Three of pop music’s top acts, Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera, hit the main stage together to perform a rendition of Madonna’s songs “Like a Virgin” and “Hollywood.” Madonna was dressed in black, as the “groom,” while Britney and Christina were her bridal babes, with white veils and all. The campy show came to a dramatic finish when the trio shared a steamy three-way kiss, prompting international headlines, a bit of hysteria, and a whole lot of controversy.
youtube.com
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26points

#20 Miley Cyrus Provocative Performance With A Foam Finger At The 2013 Vmas Sparked Controversy

Miley Cyrus Provocative Performance With A Foam Finger At The 2013 Vmas Sparked Controversy
Miley Cyrus performance was more about her provocative outfit and gestures than her infamous tongue. She started in a bear-appliqué leotard, then stripped to a nude bikini for her duet with Thicke, mimicking the women in the "Blurred Lines" video.

Some fans and critics were disappointed by the drastic shift in Miley Cyrus image, feeling that her performance was crass and attention-seeking. Parents, in particular, expressed concern about her influence on young audiences.
a
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24points
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