On Sunday night, Robert Downey Jr. accepted his first Academy Award… However, he also received considerable criticism regarding how he acknowledged it.
An awkward moment occurred on Sunday at the Oscars ceremony when five former victors, including last year’s champion Ke Huy Quan, who won Everything Everywhere All at Once, presented the award for Best Supporting Actor. As Downey made his way to the stage, Quan enthusiastically declared Downey the victor for this year’s Oscar for his performance as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer. Quan held the Oscar statuette and the envelope bearing Downey’s name.
Downey, however, did not even make eye contact with Quan as he rushed to seize the Oscar from his grasp upon reaching the stage. Downey exchanges fist bumps with Sam Rockwell and co-host Tim Robbins before turning to face the adoring crowd and ignoring Quan’s attempt to give him the Oscar envelope. (View the complete interaction by viewing the video above.)
Downey expressed gratitude in his speech to “Sam” and the “fellas” for their performance, and he celebrated his victory backstage with Quan and his fellow presenters. However, admirers promptly highlighted his apparent rejection on social media, drawing a parallel to how Taylor Swift handled Celine Dion at the Grammys.
Downey’s Oscar victory completed an eventful awards season for the former Iron Man, whose Oppenheimer honors also included a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award.
Social Media Users Allege Robert Downey Jr. Ignored Ke Huy Quan on Oscars Stage
“WHY DID HE IGNORE KE HUY QUAN LIKE THAT?!?!?!?” On X, @toffeedeleche1 wrote. “Phew. For me, it’s the way Ke Huy Quan is not making eye contact. Reminds me of The Grammys,” X user @ijamesharkness said, presumably referencing Taylor Swift’s reported rejection of Celine Dion at the February Grammy Awards.
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“Robert Downey Jr. could’ve taken one second or even acknowledged Ke Huy Quan while onstage, who (was) presenting an award to him personally,” @fazpo posted to X. “This (expletive) was so disrespectful.” After winning the Oscars, Downey Jr. was later seen hugging Quan in the press room, despite the claims that he had been ignored.
Michelle Yeoh Was Allegedly Ignored by Emma Stone at the Oscars
Presenting Stone’s Oscar for best actress was “Everything Everywhere All at Once” star Michelle Yeoh, who took home the same prize the previous year.
Stone is seen in the ceremony film going for Yeoh’s prize, but Jennifer Lawrence, the presenter, swiftly takes the trophy from Stone. Onstage, Stone embraces Lawrence, and the “No Hard Feelings” actress gives Stone the trophy instead.
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“First this damned woman wins over Lily Gladstone and then continues to refuse the award from Michelle Yeoh and only accepts it from the white woman,” @okchanmi posted to X. “Emma Stone (you) just earned (yourself) a one-way ticket to HELL.” X user @ederhaze wrote, “Michelle Yeoh = Celine Dion, Emma Stone = Taylor Swift.”
“Emma Stone dragged the trophy Michelle Yeoh was holding to the front of Jennifer Lawrence and then accepted it from Jennifer Lawrence,” @Gx61Ji2ZYGMh7fD said on social media. “This is clear racism.” Stone was later caught hugging Yeoh onstage following her victory.