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All of the key moments you missed at the 2022 Oscars

From the unbelievable viral moment no one can stop talking about, to the headline-grabbing performances and meme-worthy red carpet appearances, these are all of the moments you missed from the 2022 Oscars.

The most shocking moment of the night came courtesy of Will Smith and Chris Rock

When the latter arrived on stage to present the award for Best Documentary, he began by ribbing members of the audience including Jada Pinkett Smith, to whom he said “GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see it”, a reference to the actor’s buzz cut (she’s spoken about her struggles with hair loss in the past). Pinkett Smith seemed to roll her eyes at the comment, after which Smith made his way up onto the stage and appeared to slap Rock before shouting at him to keep his wife’s name out of his “f**king mouth”. Lupita Nyong’o’s baffled expression summed up the audience’s shock and confusion which lingered even as Questlove came up to accept his Oscar.

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Smith was eventually named Best Actor – with the award presented to him by Samuel L Jackson, John Travolta and Uma Thurman, after the latter two reenacted their famous dance from Pulp Fiction – but the earlier incident cast a shadow over his victory. Smith accepted the statuette in tears, apologised to the Academy, and paid tribute to Richard Williams, whom he described as “a fierce defender of his family”. The explanation he provided for what had transpired? “Love will make you do crazy things.”

Elsewhere, there was no shortage of emotional speeches

Best Supporting Actress winner Ariana DeBose also cried, telling the audience to imagine her as a “little girl in the backseat of a white Ford Focus. When you look into her eyes, you see an openly queer woman of colour, an Afro Latina, who found her strength in life through art. So, to anybody who’s ever questioned your identity… or you find yourself living in the grey spaces, I promise you this: there is indeed a place for us.”

Later in the night, Troy Kotsur became the first deaf man to win an acting Oscar. He did a Popeye impression, joked about teaching the president swear words in sign language (the CODA cast recently visited the White House), and became emotional when speaking about his father. “My dad was the best signer in our family, but he was in a car accident and became paralysed from the neck down and he was no longer able to sign,” Kotsur said via an interpreter who seemed to be choking up. “Dad, I learned so much from you. I’ll always love you. You are my hero.” Then there was Jessica Chastain, the winner of the Best Actress Oscar, who spoke about the “trauma and isolation” many have faced in recent months. “So many people out there feel hopeless and alone,” she said. “In times like this, I think of Tammy and I’m inspired by her radical acts of love.”

Blue #WithRefugees ribbons were everywhere

In acknowledgment of the fact that the show was going ahead against the backdrop of the continuing crisis in Ukraine, attendees wore their support for refugees on their sleeves – in some cases, literally. Presenter Jamie Lee Curtis wore a glittering navy Stella McCartney gown with a ribbon looped around her finger, Best Original Song nominee Diane Warren had one pinned to her lapel, and last year’s Best Supporting Actress winner Yuh-Jung Youn wore one with her sleek, all-black look. Meanwhile, Jason Momoa sported a pocket square in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

From Beyoncé to Megan Thee Stallion and Billie Eilish, the performances were a highlight

The show began with Venus and Serena Williams introducing Beyoncé, who lit up the screen as she performed “Be Alive” from King Richard at the Williams’ hometown tennis court in Compton. And who was front and centre in her group of dancers, dressed in a retina-searing shade of tennis-ball green? Her 10-year-old daughter Blue Ivy, of course.

It wasn’t the only performance of note, either: Megan Thee Stallion made a surprise appearance to rap a verse during Carolina Gaitán and Mauro Castillo’s rendition of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto, and Billie Eilish crooned the haunting ballad “No Time to Die”. The latter went on to win the Best Original Song Oscar and seemed genuinely shocked. “You guys! This is so unbelievable I could scream,” she said, before hugging her brother Finneas O'Connell.

Timothée Chalamet went shirtless

The look that turned everyone’s head? Dune’s dashing leading man sans shirt, in a cropped, embellished blazer and trousers by Louis Vuitton. On his agenda as he swaggered down the red carpet? Greeting hordes of screaming fans, meeting Olympian Shaun White, and posing with Oscar-nominated couple Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons.

Kristen Stewart and Dylan Meyers were the cutest red carpet couple

The Best Actress nominee for Spencer and her fiancée chose matching menswear-inspired looks, held hands and shared a kiss before the former went to pose with her director, Pablo Larraín. Be still our beating hearts.

Jamie Dornan and Andrew Garfield’s reunion made everyone swoon

The two old friends, whose films Belfast and Tick, Tick… Boom! were in contention this year, posed together on the red carpet before hugging and kissing each other on the cheek – and thus, one of the memes of the night was born.

At 90, Rita Moreno was the red carpet MVP

Resplendent in her one-shouldered ​​Carolina Herrera gown and feathered headdress, the West Side Story star was clearly having the time of her life. “I just love the way I look,” she told Laverne Cox on the red carpet. “Kill me! Sue me! I can’t get over myself.” And we couldn’t get over her.

CODA and Jane Campion made history

As expected, the auteur became the third woman in history to take home the Best Director prize for The Power of the Dog, and then, the incomparable duo of Lady Gaga and Liza Minnelli revealed that the charming Apple TV+ comedy CODA had scooped Best Picture. It is the first film with a predominantly deaf cast to do so, as well as the first released by a streaming service. Cue attendees signing their applause – a happy ending to an undeniably strange Oscars.

This article was originally published on Vogue UK.

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