09 March 2024 , 16:00
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With just days until the 94th Annual Academy Awards, we're taking a look back at some of the wildest, most outrageous moments in the famous award show's longstanding history.
As the Oscars reaches its ninth decade of hosting the awards, there have been some unforgettable moments during the red carpet event - from unexpected acts of courageous activism to intimate kisses to a swift slap across the face. As Jimmy Kimmel returns to the stage to host the Oscars on Sunday (ABC, 7 p.m. ET/4 PT), here's a throwback look at some of the jaw-dropping moments of the Oscars' history to date from unexpected red carpet kisses to swift slaps across the face.
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Marlon Brando refuses his Best Actor Oscar Award (1973)
Actor Marlon Brando shocked viewers at home as he publicly turned down his Best Actor Oscar Award in 1973. While the star didn't attend the function himself, he made an unforgettable statement as Maria Louise Cruz, better known as Sacheen Littlefeather, took the stage in traditional buckskin to announce that he is turning down the incredible honor to advocate for Native American Indians.
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Actor Marlon Brando was presented an Oscar for best actor following his role in The Godfather (Getty Images)
Maria Louise Cruz took the Oscar's stage to announce that Marlon would be rejecting the award (Getty Images)When she took to the stage, Maria read from a handwritten statement from Marlon that said: "Marlon Brando very regretfully cannot accept this award because of the treatment of American Indians in this country to-day on the television, on reruns and recent happenings at Wounded Knee."
The moment went down in Oscars' history as he is part of a very small group of people that have turned down the prestigious award that most work their entire careers to achieve. At the 1973 award show, Marlon was being recognised for his iconic performance as the character Vito Corleone in the 1972 cult classic The Godfather.
A streaker crashes the Oscar Awards (1974)
Another jaw-dropping moment in Oscars' history was when a naked streaker crashed the award show back in 1974. During the live awards, gay rights activist Robert Opel stripped down to his birthday suit and ran across the stage throwing up a peace sign behind co-host, actor David Niven.
Gay rights activist Robert Opel streaked at the 1974 Oscar Awards (YouTube)David laughed off the shocking disruption and told the crowd: "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?"
While many were taken aback, the awards show went on as planned and Robert was not arrested for the stunt. The activist later simply explained the incident was "one of those one-time things".
Cher draws attention in daring see-through dress (1988)
While the Oscars have seen many daring outfit choices in the past, the Goddess of Pop Cher was one of the first and most memorable. The famous singer and actress turned heads at the Hollywood event as she stunned in a glamorous jewel-covered see-through dress, paired with an eye-catching feathered headdress and she flaunted her modelesque figure. At the awards Cher brought home the Best Actress gong following her performance in the hit movie Moonstruck.
The Goddess of Pop Cher wore a daring see-through dress to the awards in 1988 (Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Cher won a Oscar Award for her performance in the movie Moonstruck (Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)The designer of the dramatic look Bob Mackie, who was a longtime collaborator with Cher, later dished about the inspiration behind the look and his response to all of the attention it received. In an interview with the New Yorker, he said: “She was p*ssed off, because she didn’t get nominated for ‘Mask,’” Mackie said. “There were a lot of people who said, ‘That’s not fashion!’ And I said, ‘Of course it’s not fashion. It’s a crazy getup for attention.’ And it did get attention—people talk about it still.”
Bob went on to recount a phone conversation he had with Cher while she was staying at her then-boyfriend Tom Cruise's apartment. He remembered: "She said, ‘I don’t want to look like a housewife in an evening gown,’” and he assured her: "We never have to worry about that."
Angelina Jolie shares intimate kiss on the lips with her brother at the Oscars (2000)
Actress Angelina Jolie created buzz during the Oscars back in 2000 as she shared an intimate kiss on the lips with her younger brother actor James Haven Voight. The infamous kiss left audiences speechless as they were uncomfortable by the shocking display of affection between the siblings on the red carpet. The kiss came after Angelina received her first Oscar for her performance as the character Lisa Rowe in the psychological drama Girl, Interrupted.
Angelina won an Oscar Award for her role in the movie Girl, Interrupted (Corbis via Getty Images)
Angelina shocked fans as she locked lips with her brother on the red carpet (Mediapunch/Shutterstock)In June of 2000, the actress broke her silence on the much talked-about moment, and told Entertainment Weekly that they had nothing “more than brotherly” love for each other and added “My parents really loved that moment, and that’s what will always matter."
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John Travolta botches Idina Menzel's name while presenting (2014)
Former Grease star John Travolta caused controversy as he embarrassingly butchered the pronunciation of actress Idina Menzel's name as she took the stage for her Oscar-winning moment. During the awkward blunder, John accidentally called her by the name "Adele Dazeem" before being torn to shreds online. Idina was recognised at the awards show in 2014 winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the catchy tune Let It Go.
John Travolta was trolled online after mispronouncing Idina Menzel's name during the 2014 Oscars (AFP via Getty Images)The famous Hollywood star later publicly apologised for his mistake, to which Idina accepted and hilariously got revenge as she introduced him as "Glom Gazingo" during the 2015 Oscar Awards.
Will Smith slaps presenter Chris Rock after cracking insensitive joke (2022)
Last but not least was one of the most memorable Oscars show moments of all time, when actor Will Smith slapped presenter, comedian Chris Rock across the face on live television. The unexpected strike came after a joke Rock made about Will's wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head - something that was a sensitive subject as she suffers from a hair-loss condition known as alopecia.
Will Smith slapped Chris Rock across the face on live television after joke about his wife Jada (Getty Images)After the slap, Will returned to his seat and shouted profanities at Rock, who briefly responded before completing his presentation. Since the inappropriate behaviour, that he later publicly apologised for, the actor was banned from attending AMPAS-related events for ten years.
While there was a lot more to the story going on behind the scenes, this year it was revealed that Jada and Will were actually separated at the time of the incident. With the release of her famous tell-all memoir Worthy, Jada revealed the shocking news that she and Will had been separated for seven years and living separately while still attending big Hollywood events together.