The 15 Most Awkward Oscar Speeches of All Time

When it descend to the Oscars , at least two things are true : any histrion with a remotely alien name isscrewedand someone will give a weird speech . Whether it ’s a theater director or a sound guy cable , the out of the blue crazed , political , and/or uncomfortable acceptance address is a tradition as old as the Academy Awards themselves .

We ’ll ascertain out which achiever will ply the shenanigans this year on Feb 28th , but whoever it is will have some tight rival to be listed among these all - time awkward Oscar greats .

Angelina Jolie (2000)

It ’s customary to give thanks your family at the Oscars , just not in the fantastically creepy-crawly manner Jolie , who won Best plump for Actress forGirl , Interrupted , commended her sidekick . You live , the one shekissed on the red carpeting .

Jack Palance (1992)

In an endeavor to prove himself more masculine than famous he - man Billy Crystal , 73 - year - old Jack Palance started doing one - arm thrust - ups during his Best Supporting Actor acceptance speech forCity Slickers . Sadly , no winner since has follow up with a celebratory serial of burpees or deadlifts .

George C. Scott (1971)

George C. Scott ’s Oscar winnings forPattonwas a milestone in Academy history , although you probably wo n’t hear them bragging about it . Scott became the first thespian to ever slump the honour – an intention he announced long before the ceremonial occasion , which he did n’t even attend – forget manufacturer Frank McCarthy to awkwardly accept the statue from a shocked Goldie Hawn .

Matthew McConaughey (2014)

Bob Hope were in high spirits when Matthew " Fool ’s Good " McConaughey took the stage for his first - ever Academy Award ( forDallas Buyers Club ) . Would he mutter " alright , alright , alright " and walk by ? Would he perform something on his bongo drum ? Would his shirt make out to stay on the whole clock time ? While hedidslip his signature catchphrase into his speech , no one was prepared for his monologue on his peachy hero : himself . But in the future !

Roberto Benigni (1999)

Italian writer , director , and actor Roberto Benigni ( Life Is Beautiful ) pack more military action into his three - hour acceptance oral communication than the Oscars do in a typical program . He climbed the seats ! He hopped up the stairs ! He threatened to snog everybody ! It takes some serious verve to rattle Sophia Loren , but this bozo absolutely had it .

Jennifer Lawrence (2014)

In an instantly iconic JLaw move , the actress biffed it on her fashion up to the podium , induce Bradley Cooper and Hugh Jackman to induce to her economic aid and Jack Nicholson tofall in love . But she reclaim quickly from the awkwardness because she ’s Jennifer Lawrence .

Adrien Brody (2003)

Adrien Brody : good doer , questionabledecision - Creator . In the rush of winning his first Academy Award , Brody famously made out with his unsuspecting presenter , Halle Berry . It ’s hard to say what the unearthly part of this scene was : the fact that Brody felt comfortable macking on an actress he did n’t even know , or the fact that he did it while accepting an award for a Holocaust flick .

Melissa Leo (2011)

Speaking of sexual advances , Melissa Leo seized the opportunity to flirt with Kirk Douglas upon deliver the goods forThe Fighter– and drop an F - bomb !

Vanessa Redgrave (1978)

In terms of stiffness , this notorious speech from Vanessa Redgrave is still the gold standard . While accepting Best Supporting Actress forJulia , Redgrave condemned " Zionist hoodlums whose behaviour is an insult to the stature of Jews all over the world . " ( For some context , click here . ) The gang respond with bird , and presenter Paddy Chayefsky pick apart Redgrave on stage laterthat nighttime .

Michael Moore (2003)

It ’s hardly surprising that Michael Moore used hisBowling for Columbinewin to get political , but that does n’t make his virulently anti - Bush address – also encounter with boos , plus some priceless response shots – any less uncomfortable .

George Sanders (1951)

Alfred Hitchcock , Joe Pesci , and Patty Duke are just a few of the Oscar recipients who ’ve kept their spoken communication under 10 words . But George Sanders dress down them all in 1951 when he win Best Supporting Actor forAll About Eve . As the announcer share a extremely random trivia bit about Sanders being a baritone , the man walk up to the stage , bowed , and exited without a individual Good Book . A power move if we ever saw one .

Cuba Gooding, Jr. (1997)

A team of foolish Academy Award producers guess they could weaken Cuba Gooding , Jr. with play - off euphony . But it only made him stronger . like an expert channeling hisJerry Maguirecharacter , Gooding took the cues as a challenge , adding more shoutouts with each dude and last just stepping back to do some victory leaps .

Tilda Swinton (2008)

bequeath it to rock - cold weirdo Tilda Swinton to riff on George Clooney ’s Batman suit – " the one with the mamilla " – and her agent ’s butt in this 2008 banker’s acceptance speech forMichael Clayton . It ’s actually more delicious than inept , although Swinton ’s agent may solicit to differ .

Roger Ross Williams & Elinor Burkett (2010)

There are times when the Oscars unfairly snub the great unwashed off . ( See : poorMarketa Irglova . ) Then there are times when your own partner does the deed . All anyone could do was cringe as Elinor Burkett steamrolled a rattled Roger Ross Williams when the duad accepted for Best Documentary Short Subject . He barely begin another word in once she begin , but he did manage to give us some grade - A strained smiles .

Sally Field (1985)

In Sally Field ’s defence , she never actually said , " You care me ! You really like me ! " But stop your speech communication with , " You like me , right now , you care me ! " is still pretty gushy , so her 1985 win swiftly entered the canon of overweening Academy Award speeches . Hey , at least she gota commercialout of it .

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