Wicked star Cynthia Erivo has explained the meaning behind her red carpet outfit at the 97th Academy Awards.

The 2025 Oscars is being held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, with a ton of accolades up for grabs tonight including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor.

Comedian and former talk show host Conan O’Brien is manning the ship this year, with the 61-year-old hosting the Oscars for the first time.

Before the actual awards show gets underway, all of the stars has been walking the red carpet, with Erivo’s outfit grabbing the attention’s of many online.

Erivo is up for Best Actress at the Oscars for her role alongside Ariana Grande in Wicked, and she appeared on the red carpet recently in an all green outfit.

Cynthia Erivo has stunned fans with a bold outfit (Frazer Harrison/WireImage)

While many on social media discuss it, the Wicked star has been speaking to ITV about the meaning behind the bold wardrobe choice.

The actor began by saying she hasn’t worn her iconic green on any red carpets during awards season, and that it felt fitting to go all out at the Oscars.

Erivo explained how she wanted something ‘old Hollywood’ and that she feels ‘very special’ in the outfit.

While one tweet dubbed the outfit ‘demonic’, others online have been extremely positive.

One fan dubbed the nod to Wicked as ‘epic’, while another on Twitter penned: “Cynthia Erivo just won the red carpet. Everyone else can go home now.”

Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the film, divided fans upon its release after speaking directly to fans during a broadcast on NBC.

When she was asked about some people singing to the film’s songs in the theater, she gave her OK to do it.

The actor is up for an Oscar tonight (Frazer Harrison/WireImage)

She said: “Good. I’m OK with it. We spent this long singing it ourselves — it’s time for everyone else to join in. It’s wonderful.”

In response to Erivo’s comments, one fan put it perfectly and simply said: “Nah sorry but shut the f*** up while you are in the theater.”

Another said: “It would be unacceptable to sing during a live production of the musical. Why is it acceptable in this setting?”

A third wrote: “No. I don’t buy movie tickets to hear random strangers making noise in the theater. I buy movie tickets to watch the movie.”

While another commented: “By all means host DEDICATED Sing-a-long screenings.

“It’s worked fine for Mamma Mia and certain special screenings of certain Disney classics in the past, but attempting to normalize this complete disregard for your fellow audience is part of the reason theaters are struggling.”

The 97th Academy Awards are underway and everyone is saying the same thing about Ariana Grande’s opening song.

This is the 97th Academy Awards, which have been held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles since 2001, and there are a ton of Oscars up for grabs tonight, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor.

Comedian and former talk show host Conan O’Brien is manning the ship this year – the first time the 61-year-old has hosted the Oscars.

Grande, the Wicked star, performed ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and many online have had the same reaction to her performance.

“Crying,” one person said after watching it, while a second added: “We are like five minutes into the #oscars and i am crying over ariana grande singing somewhere over the rainbow because little ari really did dream this.”

It was an incredible performance (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, a third simply put: “I’M CRYING SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL,” and a fourth quipped: “THIS IS EVERYTHING.”

Following that beautiful opening, Grande was joined by Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo to perform the one and only ‘Defying Gravity’, leaving not a single dry eye in the house.

For the 97th edition of the annual awards show, Grande has received her first ever Oscars nomination for Best Supporting Actress thanks to her role in Wicked.

Grande made her way onto the Oscars red carpet ahead of the formal proceedings taking place on Sunday, but it was co-star Erivo everyone has been speaking about.

Erivo is up for Best Actress at the Oscars, and she appeared on the red carpet recently in an all green outfit.

While many on social media discuss it, the Wicked star has been speaking to ITV about the meaning behind the bold wardrobe choice.

Ariana Grande joined by Cynthia Erivo on stage (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

The actor began by saying she hasn’t worn her iconic green on any red carpets during awards season, and that it felt fitting to go all out at the Oscars.

Erivo explained how she wanted something ‘old Hollywood’ and that she feels ‘very special’ in the outfit.

While one tweet dubbed the outfit ‘demonic’, others online have been extremely positive.

One fan dubbed the nod to Wicked as ‘epic’, while another on Twitter penned: “Cynthia Erivo just won the red carpet. Everyone else can go home now.”

While fans have got their eyes on many awards, it’s the Best Picture category that has everyone talking.

The nominations for Best Picture are: Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance and Wicked.

There may be little doubt about Timothée Chalamet’s excellence for his role in A Complete Unknown, but his Oscars outfit has left social media users divided.

The 29-year-old actor took to the red carpet ahead of tonight’s 97th Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles and was spotted posing for photographs solo by many viewers tuning into the action.

Chalamet turned up at the 2025 Oscars red carpet wearing a custom Givenchy pale yellow suit.

The actor accessorized the look with a Cartier choker, Page Six reports, alongside a black boot.

However, some social media users have been left a bit confused by his outfit.

Chalamet’s Oscars outfit has left people divided (Getty Images/ Chelsea Guglielmino/FilmMagic)

One Twitter user said: “A yellow tux? Yikes.”

“It’s giving Easter bunny,” another added.

A third commented: “Why?????”

“Bro dress like oscar,” an Instagram user said.

A second added: “Looks like a stick of butter.”

Even Variety said: “Timothée Chalamet channels his inner Laffy Taffy on the carpet at the #Oscars.”

And others were simply more concerned with where Chalamet’s partner – Kylie Jenner – is.

Yeah everyone chill out (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

A user wrote: “Wait where is kylie.”

“Where’s Kylie,” a second wrote.

Well, panic not, because Jenner is at the Oscars, she was just temporarily hidden from view. The Kardashian-Jenner was later spotted sharing ‘a sweet moment’ inside, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

For those of you actually here for what the whole ceremony is really about, he may’ve knocked the socks off viewers for his performance in Wonka, but Chalamet is his year up for the Best Actor award for his role in A Complete Unknown.

In the biopic, Chalamet plays musician Bob Dylan, portraying the star from his breakout as a musician and earlier success in the folk industry, before then ruffling a fair few feathers.

Chalamet received the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Award for his performance as Bob Dylan at the Screen Actors Guild Awards last month.

In his acceptance speech, the actor said: “I know the classiest thing would be to downplay the effort that went into this role and how much this means to me, but the truth is this was five and a half years of my life. I poured everything I have into playing this incomparable artist, Mr Bob Dylan, a true American hero, and it was the honour of a lifetime playing him.”

Dune: Part 2 and A Complete Unknown – in which Chalamet also starred – are up for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars ceremony too.

A Real Pain star Kieran Culkin has revealed a deal he and his wife ‘shook’ on dependant on whether or not he won an Oscar during his chaotic acceptance speech.

Tonight (March 3), the 97th Academy Awards ceremony kicked off and has seen Succession star take home the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in A Real Pain. Catch it for yourself here:

Culkin beat fellow nominees Yura Borisov for Anora, Edward Norton for A Complete Unknown, Guy Pearce for The Brutalist and his former Succcession co-star Jeremy Strong for The Apprentice.

During his acceptance speech, Culkin revealed he and his wife, Jazz Charton, made a deal which was linked to him ever winning an Oscar.

Reflecting on his acceptance speech for Lead Actor in a Drama at the 2024 Emmys, he revealed: “About a year ago, I was on a stage like this and I very stupidly, publicly said that I want a third kid from her because she said if I won the award she would give me the kid. Turns out she said that because she didn’t think I was going to win.”

Culkin explained he later turned around to his wife and said ‘really I want four’ and she turned back around and said she would ‘give him four’ if he ‘won an Oscar’.

Culkin continued: “I held my hand out, she shook it and I have not brought it up until just now.”

And well, tonight is the night.

Directing his speech towards Charton – seated in the audience – Culkin resolved: “You remember that honey, you do? Okay, then I just have this to say to you Jazz – love of my life, ye of little faith.

“No pressure, I love you, I’m really sorry I did this again and let’s get cracking on those kids, what do you say?”

A Real Pain (Searchlight Pictures)

Elsewhere in his speech, Culkin also praised A Real Pain co-star Jesse Eisenberg – who also wrote and directed the movie – branding him ‘a genius’.

He joked: “I would never say that to your face. I’m never saying it again. So soak it up.”

Culkin and Eisenberg star in the film as mismatched cousins who reunite for a road trip in Poland, going on a Jewish heritage tour to honor their late grandmother.

A Real Pain was also up for the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, but lost out to Sean Baker’s Anora starring Mikey Madison.

The biggest Oscars snubs ever

Citizen Kane loses to How Green Was My Valley (1942)

Citizen Kane didn’t win Best Picture (RKO Radio Pictures)

Orson Welles’ epic tale of the rise and fall of a media baron topped BFI’s Sight & Sound poll of the best films ever made for 40 years, but this apparently wasn’t enough to win an Academy Award.

The gong instead went to How Green Was My Valley, which it’s fair to say has not stood the test of time to quite the same extent.

To add insult to injury, Welles had a falling out with the Academy prior to the ceremony, and the audience booed every time his name was mentioned.

Citizen Kane was nominated for nine Academy Awards, but only took home the statuette for Best Original Screenplay.

E.T. loses to Gandhi (1983)

E.T. did not go home with any Oscars (Universal)

Even Richard Attenborough, who ended up winning Best Picture for his biopic Gandhi, thought Steven Spielberg’s E.T. should have won.

He is quoted in Joseph McBride’s Steven Spielberg: A Biography as saying of the moment his win was announced: “I didn’t go to the podium, I went over to Spielberg. He got up, I put my arms round him, and I said, ‘This isn’t right, this should be yours’.”

Spielberg’s tale of the bond between a lonely child and a horrifying looking alien remains one of the most beloved films of all time, absolutely dominating the box office following its 1982 release

The Shawshank Redemption loses to Forrest Gump (1995)

The Shawshank Redemption wasn’t that popular originally (Colombia)

While both of these films are pretty much universally adored, The Shawshank Redemption still tops IMDb’s 250 highest rated list and is regularly cited as one of the greatest movies of all time.

While in hindsight, the fact the film failed to win any of the seven Oscars it was nominated for is pretty odd, The Shawshank Redemption was a box office bomb, and in the year of its release was massively overshadowed by Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction.

Nevertheless, one fan admitted they were ‘blown away to find out that the movie didn’t win a single Academy Award’ on Reddit.

Saving Private Ryan loses to Shakespeare in Love (1999)

Harvey Weinstein was to blame for Saving Private Ryan’s loss (DreamWorks/Paramount)

In yet another upset for Steven Spielberg, his epic World War Two drama lost out to romcom Shakespeare in Love.

This has since been chalked up to the sinister machinations of Harvey Weinstein, who Den of Geek reports started a ‘whisper campaign’ claiming the only good part of Saving Private Ryan was the first 20 minutes, with the rest being ‘sentimental hokum’.

DreamWorks marketer Terry Press recalls Spielberg telling him ‘I do not want to get down in the mud with Harvey’ when he was urged to fight back amid Weinstein’s bullish campaign tactics.

Brokeback Mountain loses to Crash (2000)

Ang Lee’s queer masterpiece didn’t win (Focus Features)

The following year saw another shock Best Picture upset, with the widely reviled Crash triumphing over Brokeback Mountain.

A Reddit user called it ‘truly the greatest robbery of all time’.

Director Ang Lee claimed in a 2024 Deadline interview that support for his tragic gay love story ‘had a ceiling’ amid the Academy of the time.

He even recalls being told to stay in the wings of the stage in-between his Best Director win and the announcement of Best Picture, being told by a stage manager: “Everybody assumes you will win.”

It’s clear this one still hurts for many cinephiles, with one calling Crash’s win ‘absolutely criminal’.

Anora writer and director Sean Baker stated he’s ‘sharing’ the Oscar for best original screenplay with the sex worker community.

The writer and director – known for his work amplifying voices and experiences of those in the sex industry – took to the stage at the 97th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to accept the award for best original screenplay.

Reflecting on how ‘crazy’ it all is, Baker went on to thank the Academy, his team alongside the ‘of course, incredible, incredible cast’ from Mikey Madison to all involved, complimenting them for ‘elevating everything’ he wrote.

He continued: “I want to thank the sex worker community – they have shared their stories, they have shared their life experiences with me over the years.

“My deepest respect, thank you, I share this with you.”

Baker previously reflected to UNILAD he was slightly taken aback by the ‘universal love and support of’ the film given its subject matter.

Anora stars Mikey Madison (Neon)

He continued: “This is my fifth film that covers the subject matter so each time I do it, it’s another individual story that shows a different aspect of sex work but hopefully done in a way that allows audiences to connect with the main character – have empathy for the main character. And remove, or hopefully help remove, the unfair stigma [surrounding the adult industry].”

Baker is quick to note the themes ‘tackled in the film are really presented to the audience in a way that is left up for interpretation’.

“I think people can apply their own histories to these things, their own politics,” he says. “I think that’s part of why I wanted to make this film – to spark discussion.”

Anora is also up for Best Picture, star Madison for Best Actor, Yuriy Borisov for Best Supporting Actor and Baker for Best Director.

At the time of writing, the film also just took home the award for Best Editing, with Baker thanking all the cast and crew but ‘three individuals’ in particular for being the only members allowed in the editing room.

Morgan Freeman produced a touching tribute to Gene Hackman in an emotional speech at the 97th Academy Awards.

The 97th Academy Awards paid tribute to Gene Hackman, who, alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, was found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Wednesday (February 26).

Details from the search warrant into their deaths claim investigators are treating the deaths as ‘suspicious enough’ to investigate further.

While the sheriff’s office said it did not suspect foul play, having found no signs of ‘external trauma’ on their bodies, they haven’t yet completely ruled it out.

It was Morgan Freeman who headed up the tributes at the Oscars, with the pair starring together in the 1992 classic Unforgiven.

Freeman and Hackman joined forces once more on the 2000 flick Under Suspicion, marking one of the latter’s final roles in Hollywood before retiring.

As per Variety, Freeman began his speech: “This week, our community lost a giant. And I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman. I had the pleasure of working alongside Gene on two films, Unforgiven and Under Suspicion. Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work.

“Gene always said, ‘I don’t think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work.’

“I think I speak for us all when I say, ‘Gene, you will be remembered for that, and so much more.’ Rest in peace, my friend.”

Hackman’s daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, and his granddaughter, Annie, have released a statement in recent days following the actor’s death.

Hackman was found dead earlier this week (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

Speaking to the New York Post, they said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman, and his wife, Betsy.

“He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa.

“We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”

As part of the investigation into the deaths, Santa Fe City Fire department have seemingly ruled out carbon monoxide leak or poisoning as they found no signs of this at the home.

The New Mexico Gas Company also found no signs of this after carrying out tests on the gas line and around the residence.

Conan O’Brien has made a not so subtle joke at Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin during the 97th Academy Awards.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy was invited to President Trump’s official residence on Friday (February 28), and their meeting quickly descended into chaos.

One of the key topics of debate was Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia, which first began in February 2022 when the Russians invaded Ukraine.

According to the BBC, 95,000 people fighting for Russia’s military have now died as the war, while over 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed on the battlefield, says The Kyiv Independant.

With the thousands of lives lost, heads of state from across the globe are keen to bring an end to the conflict — Trump included.

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

But the meeting on Friday quickly descended into chaos, as Trump warned Zelenskyy that he’s ‘gambling with World War 3’.

Raising his voice, Trump said: “You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good. We’re going to feel very good and very strong. You’re right now, not in a very good position, you’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position.

“You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards … You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War Three! You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country – this country.”

As we’ve become accustomed to over the years, the Oscars is never shy to discuss politics.

And while discussing Anora’s success at the Oscars so far, host O’Brien said: “Anora’s doing great tonight. Two awards. I think Americans are finally ready for someone to stand up to a powerful Russian,” which is of course a reference to the recent drama involving President Trump.

Following the televised meeting, Zelenskyy took to social media to speak out following his visit to Washington.

He wrote on Twitter: “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”

Trump issued a statement of his own, penning on his social media platform Truth Social: “We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.

“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.

“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

The most shocking Oscars moments ever

Angelina Jolie locks lips with her brother on the red carpet (2000)

Jolie and her brother locked lips on the red carpet (Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

A sweet shoutout from Jolie to her brother James Haven after winning Best Supporting Actress for Girl, Interrupted turned into something much more bizarre on the red carpet after the event.

Jolie said during her acceptance speech: “I’m in shock, and I’m so in love with my brother right now.

“He just held me and said he loved me, and I know he’s so happy for me. And, um, thank you for that.”

So far so innocuous, but the pair then went on to lock lips on the red carpet after the ceremony in front of paparazzi.

Reflecting on the incident in 2007, James said: “I did not give Angie a French kiss. It was something simple and lovely. She was about to go off to Mexico to finish filming Original Sin with Antonio Banderas.

“I congratulated her on the Oscar win and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. It was snapped and became a big thing.”

Adrien Brody surprises Halle Berry with a kiss after winning Best Actor (2003)

The last time Brody was up for Best Actor, he took Berry and everyone else by surprise when he passionately kissed her as she presented him with the award.

Berry said in 2017: “I was like, ‘What the f**k is happening right now?’ That is what was going through my mind.”

She was sympathetic for how the moment may have gone to Brody’s head, however, adding: “I was there the year before and I know the feeling of being out of your body, I just f**king went with it.”

On the campaign trail for The Brutalist this year, Bordy said of the moment in an interview with Variety: “We live in a very conscious time, which is a wonderful thing.

“And nothing that I ever do or have done or would’ve done is ever done with the intention of making anyone feel bad.”

John Travolta absolutely butchers Idina Menzel’s name (2014)

Most people would have no trouble pronouncing Frozen star Idina Menzel’s name, but John Travolta isn’t most people.

The Grease legend ended up calling her Adele Dazeem when welcoming to her onstage to perform. Quite how he arrived at that pronunciation is anyone’s guess.

Travolta later apologised, saying in a statement: “I’ve been beating myself up all day. Then I thought … what would Idina Menzel say? She’d say, ‘Let it go, let it go!’

“Idina is incredibly talented and I am so happy Frozen took home two Oscars Sunday night!”

The La La Land and Moonlight fiasco (2017)

Back in 2017, the most prestigious award of the night, Best Film, was about to be announced.

Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced the gong had gone to La La Land, the Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone musical which was widely considered the favourite to win.

Two and half minutes later, when the La La Land team were midway through their acceptance speeches, a producer on the film Jordan Horowitz was shown another envelope that revealed they hadn’t won after all.

There’s a mistake,” he said. “Moonlight, you guys won Best Picture. This is not a joke.”

It turned out Beatty had somehow been handed the envelope for Best Actress, which went to Emma Stone for La La Land earlier in the evening.

It turned into a mortifying experience for all involved. Moonlight director Barry Jenkins said afterwards: “I noticed the commotion but I was speechless when the result was altered. I’ve never seen that happen before.”

The slap heard around the world (2022)

Easily the most dramatic thing to ever happen at the Oscars, Smith strode on stage and walloped presenter Chris Rock, after he made an ill-advised joke about the Men in Black star’s wife Jada Pinkett-Smith.

Rock said on stage: “Jada, can’t wait for G.I. Jane 2,” a reference to her shaved head. Jada has been open about her struggles with alopecia, which made this a low blow in many people’s eyes.

Cue Smith striding on stage and smacking Rock, later yelling at him: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f**king mouth.”

The upside of all this was that Smith was banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years, although he did awkwardly go on to pick up the award for Best Actor later that evening.

Smith apologised for his behaviour several times in the months following, saying: “One of the things about that moment, I just didn’t realise, I wasn’t thinking, but how many people got hurt in that moment.”