Last night, big stars and big talent gathered for the most prestigious night in film – the 94th Academy Awards. The event always marks the height of awards season with designer gowns, sharp suits and a chance for history to be made. Oscars 2022 delivered on all notes. Unfortunately, the drama that briefly erupted between receiver of the Oscars 2022 Best Actor award Will Smith and presenter Chris Rock has cast a shadow.
Winning history
The film industry is continually being challenged to become a more integrative space for visual artists. Although it is not a perfect space, the last few years have shown that the Academy is listening. This is especially true when it comes to the award for Best Picture. In 2020 the award went to Parasite – a South Korean black comedy thriller, directed by Bon Joon-ho. Last year Best picture was awarded to the female-centred Nomadland starring legend Frances McDormand and directed by Chloe Zhao. That year Chloe won Best Director too, becoming the second woman and first non-white woman to ever do so.
Oscars 2022 saw another historic win in this category with American coming-of-age comedy-drama film, CODA. This film follows the story of Ruby Rossi, the eponymous CODA (child of deaf adults), as the only hearing member of her family. It is the first film of its kind to reach such acclaim.
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It was 60 years ago that Rita Moreno won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. It was for the role of West Side Story‘s Anita. The Oscars 2022 saw history repeated with Ariana DeBose winning the very same award for the very same role in Steven Spielberg’s remake.
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To add to this wonderful story, Ariana is the first openly queer woman of colour and just the second Latina to win an acting Oscar. With Rita in the audience, Ariana included a heartfelt thanks in her acceptance speech.’You’re staring at me right now, and I’m so grateful,’ she said. ‘Your Anita paved the way for tons of Anitas like me. I love you so much.’
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The women sparkled!
It wasn’t just the trophy’s glinting against the LA sky last night, but the stars themselves. Sparkle, shimmer and shine was the trend of the night with many celebs taking to the red carpet in creations that glittered with joy. Receiver of the Best Actress Award for her role as a Christian televangelist in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Jessica Chastain was a vision in ombré Gucci. The gown faded from gold into a shade of periwinkle – Pantone’s colour of the year.
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Also choosing head-to-toe dazzle was Amelia Warner in a gold sequinned gown with floral detailing from Giambattista Valli’s Fall 2021 collection. Her husband Jamie Dornan was a Best Actor nominee last night for his role in Belfast.
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Another showstopper in gold was Lupita Nyong’o in a Prada custom burnished yellow three-dimensional sequins flared gown enriched with amethyst and topaz crystals.
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Comedian Tiffany Hadish wowed in a deep green, form-fitting custom Dolce and Gabbana. Sporting a short and blonde cut with gorgeous Pomellato jewels, Tiffany was utter perfection.
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Hostess with the mostest, Amy Schumer, went for a more subtle shimmer in her custom Oscar de la Renta piece that featured a sequined bow along the plunging neckline.
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As did Demi Singleton of King Richard who stunned in one of the most elegant outfits of the night, a custom encrusted Miu Miu dress.
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Another West Side Story star who added a little shimmer to the evening was Rachel Zegler in a slightly sheer black beaded Dior Couture gown created by Maria Grazia Chiuri.
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Of course, star of the moment for a few years now, Zendaya was claimed as Best Dressed by many (including Zac Posen!). She too was among the glitterati that glittered with a Valentino two-piece that played with a classic gown skirt and a formal button up shirt design.
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Iconic duos of the Oscars 2022
An event as special as the Academy Awards always brings out some iconic duos. And we’re not talking couples, although there were plenty to make our romantic hearts sing.
Songbirds and legends of the stage, Liza Minelli and Lady Gaga shared a touching few moments under the lights to present the award for Best Picture.
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Film’s big night brought out Beyoncé who performed her nominated King Richard hit titled ‘Be Alive’ from a tennis court in Compton. It was the first time in a long time that we were treated to a live Beyoncé performance, made even more phenomenal by the fact that the ornate production included her and Jay-Z’s first child, 10 year old daughter Blue Ivy. The iconic mother-daughter duo were an instant fan favourite of the Oscars 2022 night!
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Did y’all see BLUE IVY getting in her eight counts?!! 😍💙 #Oscars #Oscar pic.twitter.com/Ub6tlKcDpO
— Keonté Smith 🌻 (@IamKeonte) March 28, 2022
A touching display of female friendships and support was all around last night, but it’s the sweet background moments that really make us smile. Like seeing the reunion of Big Little Lies stars Zoë Kravitz and Nicole Kidman. Not only are the two co-stars but back in the early 2000’s Nicole and Zoë’s dad were actually engaged after dating for a few years! Their bond is quite something.
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The drama
One iconic duo who have emerged from the Oscars 2022 ceremony, for some heavily debated reasons, are Will Smith and Chris Rock. By now you might have already heard that after Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s (Will’s wife of over 23 years) shaved head, Will got on stage and slapped the comedian right across the face.
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During the commercial break, Will Smith is pulled aside and comforted by Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry, who motion for him to brush it off. Will appears to wipe tears from his eyes as he sits back down with Jada, with Denzel comforting Jada and Will’s rep by his side. pic.twitter.com/uDGVnWrSS2
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) March 28, 2022
Some fans and celebs have come out to support one or the other. Some feel Will Smith gallantly stood up for his wife, like Tiffany Hadish who spoke to People about it afterward. Others feel Chris Rock handled the scenario very well.
However there are those who have brought up a different side to this, one that shows how the elite and the Awards condone violence and toxic masculinity. The internet has been debating how not only was Will Smith not asked to leave the building after this attack, but was later accepting the award for Best Actor.
We should never get to a place where we sit and watch a movie star hit someone on global television then, moments later, get a standing ovation while talking about love. #WillSmith #Oscars
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) March 28, 2022
To anyone wondering why so many people don’t come forward about violence, everyone just watched this man physically assault someone, and no one did shit. Like they didn’t even make him leave lol #theslap #WillSmith #ChrisRock #oscars pic.twitter.com/olOSDotjda
— KateFinn (@KateFinnnnn) March 28, 2022
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Violence isn’t ok. Assault is never the answer. Also? This is the 2nd time that Chris has made fun of Jada on the #Oscars stage, & tonight he went after her alopecia. Punching down at someone’s auto-immune disease is wrong. Doing so on purpose is cruel. They both need a breather.
— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) March 28, 2022
No matter what side you are on, I think we can all safely admit that Chris Rocks’s joke was a lazy one. He was onstage to present the award for Best Documentary but took a stab at Jada Pinkett Smith for having a ‘manly’ haircut, which should be noted is due to her struggle with alopecia. However, violence is not the way Will Smith should have expressed his disagreement. Our favourite take is by Twitter user below:
#Oscars2022
Imagine if Will Smith went on stage, took the mic, and said,“My wife has been public about her struggle with alopecia, we don’t like that joke, and she’s still the most beautiful woman in the room.”
Violence isn’t ok. Assault is never the answer. Also? This is the 2nd time that Chris has made fun of Jada on the #Oscars stage, & tonight he went after her alopecia. Punching down at someone’s auto-immune disease is wrong. Doing so on purpose is cruel. They both need a breather.
— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) March 28, 2022
THE DIFFERENCE.
And the only fool is Chris Rock.#AcademyAwards— @GaryTraynor🦆 (@GaryTraynor21) March 28, 2022
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