10 Shocking Moments in Academy Award History

Earning an Academy Award is the goal for most people in Hollywood. Each year, the biggest names in the industry convene for an evening in which only the best in the business will take home an award. While the award show is often seen as one of the biggest nights in film, it typically comes

84th Academy Awards Nominations Announcement

Earning an Academy Award is the goal for most people in Hollywood.  Each year, the biggest names in the industry convene for an evening in which only the best in the business will take home an award.  While the award show is often seen as one of the biggest nights in film, it typically comes and goes with very little surprise.  However, over the years, several stars have taken advantage of the platform and used their moment on stage to leave a lasting impression.  As a result, there have been several moments at the Academy Awards that have gone down in history, and will continue to be remembered for years to come.  Here are 10 of the most shocking moments in Academy Award History.

 (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Jennifer Lawrence trips.

Jennifer Lawrence is currently one of the biggest names in the acting industry. Aside from her acting skills, fans love her cool and poised demeanor.  However, at the 2014 Academy Awards, Lawrence didn’t look so cool when she accidentally tripped while walking up to the stage to accept her award for her role in Silver Linings Playbook.  In 2014, Lawrence tripped again, this time while walking down the red carpet.

(GIF courtesy of Tumblr)

86th Annual Academy Awards - Show

Ellen DeGeneres’ pizza and pictures.

Although the night of the Academy Awards is one of the most anticipated events in Hollywood, the award show certainly isn’t popular for its fun and laid back environment.  However, at the 2014 Academy Awards, Ellen DeGeneres changed that when she ordered pizza and had it delivered to the award show.  During the evening, DeGeneres also took a star-studded selfie that became one of the most popular images on the internet.

(Photo credit Ellen DeGeneres/Twitter via Getty Images)

Farah Fawcett doing jury duty at Beverly Hills, CA

Farrah Fawcett left out of 2010 tribute.

People everywhere were stunned and saddened when actress, Farrah Fawcett, passed away in 2009 after a long battle with cancer.  However, fans were even more stunned when Farrah Fawcett was not included when the Academy paid tribute to other stars who had passed away over the year.

(Photo by Marsaili McGrath/Getty Images)

67th Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards - Show

Barbara Streisand and Katherine Hepburn tie for Best Actress award.

At the 1969 Academy Awards, everyone was stunned when Barbara Streisand and Katherine Hepburn tied for the Best Actress award.  This event marked the first tie for a major category, and both women received an Oscar. However, Hepburn, who won Best Actress the previous year, was not in attendance at the show.

 (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for DGA)

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Halle Berry and Adrien Brody share a kiss.

For years, Halle Berry has been considered one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, and with that beauty comes a very unwanted price.  In 2003, actor, Adrian Brody, surprised everyone when he initiated a make out session with Berry while the two were on stage.  Berry, who looked surprised and uncomfortable, did her best to go along with the moment, but many in attendance were confused by Brody’s behavior.  After the event, viewers from around the world commented on the incident stating that Brody’s behavior was “rude” and “inexcusable.”

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Streaking across the stage.

In 1974, photographer, Robert Opel, did the unthinkable when he ran across the Academy Awards stage completely naked while making a peace sign with his fingers.  After Opel crossed the stage, co-host David Niven, addressed the crowd stating: “Isn’t it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?”

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Angelina Jolie share’s a kiss with her brother.

Angelina Jolie is always full of surprises.  However, no surprise is more memorable than the moment at the  2000 Academy Awards when Jolie and her brother shared a strangely intimate kiss.  While the sibling pair kissed on the lips like long time lovers, viewers looked on in complete shock.  However, both Jolie and her brother insist that the moment was misconstrued and those close to the family seem to defend their claim. Cis Rundle, a friend of Jolie’s mother stated: “The day she kissed Jamie at the Oscars, it was the first day Marcheline was treated for cancer. They left the hospital together and got ready together…Nobody in the world knew that they spent the day in the hospital. It was like, ‘Look where we’re at now.’ But the world saw something incestual. It was meant to be ‘Here we are.’ They only ever had each other. They had a very tight relationship with each other and their mother.”

(Photo courtesy of Twitter)

The American Theatre Wing's 2012 Annual Gala

Vanessa Redgrave and Paddy Chayefsky ruffle feathers.

When celebrities attend the Academy Awards, they tend to be on their best behavior.  However, Vanessa Redrave ruffled more than a few feathers during her acceptance speech for the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film, Julia, in which she played a woman murdered by German Nazis.  During the speech, Redgrave caused some controversy when she stated: “I think you should be very proud that in the last few weeks you’ve stood firm and you have refused to be intimidated by the threats of a small bunch of Zionist hoodlums, whose behavior is an insult to the stature of Jews all over the world.”  Her comments stemmed from a group of angry Jewish Defense League members who did not agree with Redgrave’s support of Palestine.  When screenwriter, Paddy Chayefsky took the stage later in the evening, she addressed Redgrave’s speech stating: ” would like to suggest to Miss Redgrave that her winning an Academy Award is not a pivotal moment in history, does not require a proclamation and a simple ‘Thank you’ would have sufficed.”

(Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

Michael Jackson Concert - Day 1

Marlon Brando rejects his award.

Marlon Brando has gone down in history as one of the most talented actors of his generation.  Throughout his career, Brando starred in several popular films, and won numerous awards.  In 1973, Brando made a bold move at the Academy Awards when he did not his Best Actor award for his role in the now classic film, The Godfather. Instead, Brando sent Native American actress, Sacheen Littlefeather to the show in his place.  When Brando’s name was called, Littlefeather approached the stage and stated: “I’m representing Marlon Brando this evening and he has asked me to tell you … that he very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award. And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry…”

(Photo by Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect.)

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Hattie McDaniel wins an Academy Award.

In 1940, Hattie McDaniel shocked the entire world when she became the first African-American to win an Academy Award.  McDaniel earned the award for her role in the film, Gone with the Wind.  During her speech she stated: “This is one of the happiest moments of my life, and I want to thank each one of you who had a part in selecting me for one of their awards, for your kindness. It has made me feel very, very humble; and I shall always hold it as a beacon for anything that I may be able to do in the future. I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry. My heart is too full to tell you just how I feel, and may I say thank you and God bless you.”

(Photo courtesy of Twitter)

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