Despite this year’s Academy Awards being the 96th edition, the 2024 Oscars still managed to surprise us, not just with the winners but with the warmth of those who made up the star-studded night.
Michelle Yeoh, who won last year’s Best Actress award for her captivating performance in Everything Everywhere All At Once, delivered one of the night’s most unexpected surprises this year. She passed the Best Actress torch to winner Emma Stone in a manner nobody anticipated.
After Emma walked on stage to receive the prestigious award, Michelle was captured taking an extra moment to allow actress Jennifer Lawrence to hand over the golden statuette to Emma.
Viewers were left confused when the award took a detour from Michelle’s hands before finally being passed on to the winner. Some people online even accused Emma of being rude and ignoring Michelle during the awkward moment.
People across the world were confused when they saw Emma Stone receive the award from Jennifer Lawrence
Image credits: Kevin Winter / Getty Images
Michelle eventually explained that she had a heartwarming reason for wanting Jennifer Lawrence to be part of this Hollywood history-making moment.
“Congratulations Emma!! I confused you, but I wanted to share that glorious moment of handing over Oscar to you together with your best friend Jennifer!!” Michelle wrote on Instagram.
As Michelle explained how she wanted to celebrate the red carpet camaraderie between Jennifer and Emma, she also noted how their bond is similar to the one she shares with her “bae,” Jamie Lee Curtis.
“She reminded me of my Bae Jamie Lee Curtis. Always there for each other!!” Michelle said.
Below is the moment Michelle Yeoh included Jennifer Lawrence in handing over the golden statuette to Emma Stone
Many fans online appreciated Michelle for her heartwarming gesture.
“I thought it was so sweet, jennifer and emma are best friends and Michelle knew it!” one said, while another added, “Our world is not worthy of your presence! Passing the Oscar over so that she can share that moment with her friend, what an insight so many others would overlook.”
Another wrote, “Thank you for the clarification! That was the nicest gesture by you to make Emma's big moment even more special by including her best friend Jennifer Lawrence. Thank you, Michelle!!! You are such a wonderful human being and talented actress.”
Fans appreciated Michelle Yeoh for celebrating the camaraderie between Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone
Not only did the moment add an element of surprise, but it beautifully symbolized the spirit of women supporting women through their wins.
“Society wants women to be pinned against each other but the reality is we can all win. absolute queen activities on display here, nothing less,” read one comment.
In her emotional acceptance speech, Emma called all five women presenters on stage — Jessica Lange, Charlize Theron, Sally Field, Michelle, and Jennifer — “incredible.”
“The women on the stage, you are all incredible,” Emma said during her speech
Image credits: Michelle Yeoh
The nominees and winners of some of the 96th Academy Awards categories:
Best Picture:
Winner: Oppenheimer
American Fiction
Anatomy of a Fall
Barbie
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Past Lives
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest
Winner: Oppenheimer
American Fiction
Anatomy of a Fall
Barbie
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Past Lives
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest
Best Actress:
Winner: Emma Stone – Poor Things
Annette Bening – Nyad
Lily Gladstone – Killers of the Flower Moon
Sandra Huller – Anatomy of a Fall
Carey Mulligan – Maestro
Winner: Emma Stone – Poor Things
Annette Bening – Nyad
Lily Gladstone – Killers of the Flower Moon
Sandra Huller – Anatomy of a Fall
Carey Mulligan – Maestro
Best Actor:
Winner: Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
Bradley Cooper – Maestro
Colman Domingo – Rustin
Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers
Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction
Winner: Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
Bradley Cooper – Maestro
Colman Domingo – Rustin
Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers
Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction
Best Supporting Actress:
Winner: Da’Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers
Emily Blunt – Oppenheimer
Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple
America Ferrera – Barbie
Jodie Foster – Nyad
Winner: Da’Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers
Emily Blunt – Oppenheimer
Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple
America Ferrera – Barbie
Jodie Foster – Nyad
Best Supporting Actor:
Winner: Robert Downey Jr – Oppenheimer
Sterling K Brown – American Fiction
Robert De Niro – Killers of the Flower Moon
Ryan Gosling – Barbie
Mark Ruffalo – Poor Things
Winner: Robert Downey Jr – Oppenheimer
Sterling K Brown – American Fiction
Robert De Niro – Killers of the Flower Moon
Ryan Gosling – Barbie
Mark Ruffalo – Poor Things
Best Director:
Winner: Oppenheimer – Christopher Nolan
Anatomy of a Fall – Justine Triet
Killers of the Flower Moon – Martin Scorsese
Poor Things – Yorgos Lanthimos
The Zone of Interest – Jonathan Glazer
Winner: Oppenheimer – Christopher Nolan
Anatomy of a Fall – Justine Triet
Killers of the Flower Moon – Martin Scorsese
Poor Things – Yorgos Lanthimos
The Zone of Interest – Jonathan Glazer
Best Original Song:
Winner: What Was I Made For? – Barbie (Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell)
The Fire Inside – Flamin’ Hot (Diane Warren)
I’m Just Ken – Barbie (Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt)
It Never Went Away – American Symphony (Jon Batiste, Dan Wilson)
Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People) – Killers of the Flower Moon (Scott George)
Winner: What Was I Made For? – Barbie (Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell)
The Fire Inside – Flamin’ Hot (Diane Warren)
I’m Just Ken – Barbie (Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt)
It Never Went Away – American Symphony (Jon Batiste, Dan Wilson)
Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People) – Killers of the Flower Moon (Scott George)