10 Most Cringey Oscar Moments We Can't Forget (And Not for Good Reasons)

The Oscars aren't all glamour and perfect speeches. Sometimes, the most memorable moments are the downright awkward ones. Let's start with arguably the biggest flub in Oscar history.

10. The Wrong Winner Was Announced

Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway mistakenly announced La La Land as the Best Picture winner. The real winner? Moonlight. Cue frantic on-stage confusion as the correct envelope was finally revealed, creating one of the most painfully awkward moments ever televised.

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9. Nicole Kidman's 'Seal Clap'
Nicole Kidman's bizarre, stiff-armed applause went viral, with everyone asking "What was that?!" She later explained she was wearing heavy, borrowed jewelry and was afraid of damaging it, leading to this uniquely strange moment we'll remember for decades.

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Think that was cringey? Well, the awkwardness doesn't stop there. Buckle up for more.

8. John Travolta Butchered Idina Menzel's Name
Introducing the performer of "Let It Go," John Travolta famously called Idina Menzel "Adele Dazeem." He blamed a last-minute phonetic spelling on his card that threw him off. Menzel got her revenge the next year by jokingly introducing him as "Glom Gazingo."

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7. A 'In Memoriam' Tribute to Someone Still Alive
Imagine settling in to watch the Oscars and suddenly seeing your own face in the "In Memoriam" segment. That's what happened to a very-much-alive producer Jan Chapman when her photo was mistakenly used to honor the late costume designer Janet Patterson.

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6. Chrissy Teigen Fell Asleep
Chrissy Teigen was caught on camera napping on husband John Legend's shoulder during Casey Affleck's acceptance speech in 2017. A little awkward? Sure. But hey, sometimes you just need a quick nap.

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Just when you think it can't get more unprofessional, wait until you see this next one.

5. The On-Stage Crasher
In a move reminiscent of Kanye West, Eleanor Coppola stormed the stage, interrupting director Roger Ross Williams' acceptance speech for Music by Prudence. Despite being a producer on the winning film, her "let me talk" moment was painfully awkward as she took over the microphone.

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4. Roberto Benigni's Chair-Walking
Upon winning Best Foreign Language Film for Life is Beautiful in 1999, an ecstatic Roberto Benigni chose to forego the floor. Instead, he jubilantly climbed and balanced on the backs of audience chairs on his way to the stage. Roberto, the floor was right there!

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3. Jennifer Lawrence's Tumble
Of course, J.Law makes the list. While heading to the stage to accept her Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook in 2013, she tripped over her gown. True to form, she laughed it off, endearing herself to everyone. She later blamed the fall on being distracted by thoughts of... cake.

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Believe it or not, the Oscars themselves have created some of the most head-scratching moments.

2. Major Awards Were Presented Off-Air
In 2022, the Academy decided to present eight categories—including Film Editing and Original Score—before the live broadcast. This meant huge wins, like for Dune, and historic moments, like Riz Ahmed becoming the first Muslim to win a Live Action Short Oscar, happened almost entirely off-camera, leaving audiences to find out on Twitter.

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1. Winners Had to Put Their Oscars on the Floor

And there you have it—a decade of cringe from the Oscars. Which moment made you wince the most?