The 2021 Oscars Ended on a Weird Note and the Internet Has Thoughts

Anti-climatic doesn't even begin to describe it.

the oscars®
(Image credit: ABC)
Neha Prakash
By Neha Prakash
published

The Oscars continued its long-standing tradition of not nailing the ending (coughLaLaLandMoonlightcough) at the 2021 Academy Awards with a very anti-climatic conclusion that overshadowed what was mostly a pleasant and history-making event.

The producers made a baffling decision to rearrange the ceremony's final categories, giving out the trophy for "Best Picture" before the "Best Actress" and "Best Actor" awards (the "Supporting Actor/Actress" categories also didn't open the show, per tradition). Though the switcheroo quickly turned into a snafu, thanks to some poor planning—which subsequently robbed Anthony Hopkins, Chadwick Boseman, and Nomadland of their special moments.

Many viewers made the assumption that the change in the run-of-show was to allow for a memorable celebration of the late Boseman. The actor—who died in 2020 of colon cancer—was nominated for Best Actor for his role in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Boseman had posthumously swept the award season, with his widow graciously accepting on his behalf during the Golden Globes and SAGs earlier this year. While it would have been a somber note to end the ceremony on, it would have also been a fitting way to honor Boseman's legacy in the film industry and beyond. But the Oscars producers clearly counted their chickens before they were hatched, because Boseman was not awarded the trophy; instead, Best Actor went to Hopkins for The Father.

To make the situation more awkward, Hopkins wasn't in attendance Sunday night, meaning that presenter Joaquin Phoenix was forced to accept the statue in his honor, swiftly closing out the entire night with very little fanfare. (If the Best Picture category had gone last, as usual, the ceremony would've ended with the zany Frances McDormand howling. Which, yes, please.)

Of course, no one could've predicted the Boseman snub (and Hopkins is always deserving of an Oscar) but nonetheless, the Internet wasn't thrilled with the conclusion to the over-three-hour event.

See the best Twitter reactions, below, and remember Oscars season 2022 begins...now.

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Neha Prakash
Neha Prakash
Entertainment Director

As Marie Claire’s Entertainment Director, Neha oversees and executes strategy for all editorial talent bookings and culture coverage across the brand's print and digital entities, including covers, celebrity profiles and features, social takeovers, and video franchises as well as handles talent relations for MC's flagship summit, Power Trip. She's passionate about elevating diverse voices and stories, loves a hot-take, and generally hates reboots. She's worked in media for more than 10 years and her bylines about pop culture, film & tv, and fashion have appeared on Glamour, Vanity Fair, GQ, Allure, Teen Vogue, Brides, and Architectural Digest. She is a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism. 

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