Top 5 all-time Oscar shocks!
by Jay Cook
If you thought the Oscars were becoming a tad overdone and in need of something to give it life again, your hopes and dreams have come to fruition in the form of a slap. Nothing like a grown man taking an open palm to the face of another. Reminds me of the ye old days when gentlemen fought. But we delve into this incident a bit further down.
For now, let me take you on a shocking Oscars journey counting down to the number one spot where things went wrong, people got way too excited and some people really didn’t want to have any part of the Academy Awards.
Number 5: Envelopegate.
It’s 2017, a year of big-hitting eclectic films. Some of the top films of the year fighting for the number one spot at the Oscars is sci-fi of aliens visiting Earth – Arrival, a drama based on the real-life events of an adopted child finding his birth parents across the world with only a simple memory- Lion, a historical drama about the pivotal role three female African-America’s played in sending man into space – Hidden Figures, a musical – La la land and the drama of a young African-American boy trying to find his way in the world as he discovers his sexuality – Moonlight.
An absolute stellar lineup of the year’s biggest films and a lot riding on that number one spot. So when Bonny and Clyde co-stars Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty go to announce the winner of Best Picture, there’s a moment of confusion from Beatty. He hands the envelope to his co-star in an attempt to clarify what it is they are reading, but in the excitement, Dunaway announces it’s La la Land.
As the producers of La la Land are giving their acceptance speech the accountants have to announce, there’s been a terrible mistake and Moonlight is the actual winner.
Number 4: Adrien Brody gives Halle Berry a big smooch
There’s a lot of emotion when it comes to accepting an award. Not to mention you have to thank everyone in a very short amount of time. At the 75th Academy Awards Adrian Body was up for Best Actor for his outstanding performance in The Pianist. The story of a Polish musician during WWII as he loses contact with his family and tries to escape Warsaw as it crumbles around him.
Handing Brody the award was the most bookable actress at the time, Halle Berry. In a very awkward and without consent, Brody took the award from Berry then took her in a dramatic embrace and gave her a very long kiss.
Coming up for air Berry laughed it off but later said she had absolutely no idea what was going on.
Number 3: Marlon Brando declined his Oscar
In any occupation, you’re awarded amongst your peers for being the best. And for a lot of people, you want to be better than the rest. For an Actor, the Oscar is a pivotal career highlight. Your name will be on the lips of anyone who reads the news and watches a movie. People will tune in around the world to see your acceptance speech for the Best Actor. This means that acceptance speech can hold a lot of power.
With 8 nominations to his name, Actor Marlon Brando was up for Best Actor to celebrate his performance in The Godfather in 1973. Brando used his position to send a message to the world and in particular Hollywood. He decided to let Native American actress Sacheen Littlefeather to attend in his place and as his name was read and Littlefeather made her way to the stage to accept the award she read a letter from Brando.
Explaining why he can’t accept the award Littlefeather announces it is because of “the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry”.
Number 2: The Streaker
His name is Robert Opel and aside from being an American photographer and art gallery owner, he could be most remembered as the man who streaked the 46th Oscars in 1974.
Elizabeth Taylor is being introduced to the stage by David Niven when a fit naked man jogs casually across the stage for everyone to see. And as you can imagine laughter ensued building to one very quick-witted line by Niven, “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?”.
Opel was a well-known advocate for gay liberation in the LA area. And in a random turn of events was also a speechwriter for future president Ronald Reagen.
Number 1: Will Smith slaps Chris Rock on stage
This one will still be fresh in everyone’s mind, but it’s easily one of the more shocking to come from such a happy time. I will start by saying, there is no way he should have walked away with any award this night.
Chris Rock is on stage to present an award but as you would expect from any comedian, he had a few roasts to do. Making a joke about Will Smith’s Wife Jada Pinkett Smith and her GI Jane style haircut, Will Smith walked up to Rock and slapped him before sitting down and verbally abusing him. Rock took it in his stride and carried on to the shock and disbelief of the audience.
Sadly, Will Smith managed to be awarded for his inexcusable actions and won Best Actor. He used his speech to apologise to everyone, but not Chris Rock. 
