6 Biggest Controversies in Oscars History: From Will Smith’s slap to ‘Envelope-gate’ Best Picture mix-up

For almost a hundred years, the Oscars have been Hollywood’s big night: the red carpet, the speeches, the golden statues. It’s all about celebrating movies and the people who make them. But it’d be unfair to pretend that the show’s been just about a glamorous award night; in fact, it has always been just as famous for its drama behind the scenes. Every year, there’s something: shocking mistakes, protests, statements, and speeches, some awkward encounters, or even a brawl or two.

Over the years, some Oscar controversies hit on big issues, like Hollywood’s history with race and representation. Others are just plain weird: wrong winners, cringe moments that explode online, or that one time someone stormed the stage. And thanks to social media and the digital boom, these moments don’t just disappear; they go viral and stick around, part of the Oscars’ story forever.

From Marlon Brando sending a protestor in his place, to the wild ‘Envelope-gate’ blunder in 2017, to Will Smith’s headline-grabbing slap in 2022 — these aren’t just blips. They show the Academy Awards night is more than just about movies and their recognition. The ceremony always ends up reflecting the industry’s real tensions, values, and flaws.

This definitely will go down as one of the most talked-about moments in Oscar history. Nobody saw it coming. Per People, in the middle of the 2022 Oscars, Will Smith got up, walked right onto the stage, and slapped Chris Rock. Rock had cracked a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head (for the unversed, she has alopecia, which is a legitimate medical condition), and Smith lost it. At first, Smith laughed, but then he changed his mind, marched up, and smacked Rock. From his seat, Smith shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your mouth,” and the room went silent. The aftermath was more spectacular: while people couldn’t believe what they just saw, Smith apologized, quit the Academy, and got banned from the Oscars for the next decade.

The 2017 Oscars ended in total chaos, but not like the slap-snap, at least. What happened was, per E! News, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway opened the envelope and announced ‘La La Land’ had won Best Picture. The crew hit the stage, started giving their speeches, and then, live on TV, someone rushed in to say there’d been a mistake. Actually, ‘Moonlight’ was the real winner in that section. Turns out, the presenters had the wrong envelope, the one meant for Best Actress Emma Stone. The moment was awkward, embarrassing, sure, but it was also unforgettable.

Back in 1973, the acclaimed actor Marlon Brando won Best Actor for ‘The Godfather’, but he didn’t show up at the ceremony. Per History, instead, he asked activist Sacheen Littlefeather to step on stage for him and turn down the award. She told the crowd that Brando was protesting how Hollywood treated Native Americans. What was more shocking was that the backlash against Littlefeather was so intense that she even got threats. It took decades, but eventually the Academy apologized for how she was treated.

Per the BBC, #OscarsSoWhite wasn’t just a catchy hashtag; it turned into a global movement. When people noticed that almost every acting nominee in 2015 and 2016 was white, activist April Reign called it out on Twitter. The hashtag went viral fast, and suddenly everyone was talking about Hollywood’s racism. The Academy had to respond eventually. They promised to shake things up and actually started diversifying their membership. It was a real wake-up call, and it changed the Oscars forever, and for the better.

This one still stings for a lot of people to date. In 2006, ‘Crash’ took home Best Picture over ‘Brokeback Mountain’ — yes, ‘Brokeback Mountain’, the film everyone expected to win. Because it happened two decades ago, it was assumed that the Academy played it safe, passing over a groundbreaking love story between two men. Cinephiles and critics still argue about it today; it’s one of the most controversial wins ever.

And then there was 1974, when photographer Robert Opel ran naked across the Oscars stage behind host David Niven. The audience gasped, but Niven didn’t miss a beat; per The New Yorker, he joked that the streaker was probably hoping for “the only laugh he’ll ever get.” It was weird and wild when it happened; to date, it’s impossible to forget, and then the streaker went on to become a legendary live-TV moment.