From the awkward celebrity reactions to the out-there fashion moments, this year’s Academy Awards didn’t disappoint in producing viral moments.
But one little bit that stuck out in particular had to be what happened when Adrian Brody took to the stage.
It was a big night for the 51-year-old as he picked up the coveted Best Actor award for his performance in The Brutalist.
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And despite his huge Oscar moment likely being a milestone in his career, he’s had to defend a ‘disgusting’ act he was slammed for following the win.
As you probably would when you’re mixing with A-listers and perhaps feeling a little nervous, Brody was chewing on a bit of gum.
You know, just keeping his breath fresh, looking ‘cool’ as he sat watching the nominees reel.
But of course, he then needed to get rid of it, probably not thinking it’s the best look to have a bit of chewy in his gob while he accepts an Oscar.
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So, he did what he seemingly had to do. As the camera followed him walking onto the stage, he was caught stopping part way up the stairs to pull the gum from his mouth.
However, instead of discarding it into a bit of tissue, he indicated what he was doing before turning to throw it back towards the audience.
Watch the rather un-Oscar Oscars moment below:
In what seemed almost like some kind of choreographed act (suggesting perhaps it’s something this couple do on the regular or had practiced as a bit), Brody’s partner Georgina Chapman, ran to catch it in her hands.
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With users online slamming the moment as ‘disgusting’ and others simply just baffled, the actor spoke out on the gum toss.
The couple joined Live With Kelly and Mark backstage at the ceremony just moments after his big win where he explained: “I could’ve swallowed it, but I didn’t think about that. I had to get rid of it somehow.”
Not everyone was so grossed out by the moment anyway, as one user wrote: “Adrien Brody throwing his chewing gum and his [partner] catching it is true love.”
“I would’ve been fighting for Adrian Brody’s piece of gum like a wedding bouquet,” another joked.
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While others said: “Not Adrien Brody doing the, ‘hold my gum’,” and: “Adrien Brody could’ve used his long speech to apologise to his partner for throwing gum at her.”
Plus, in a bit of a plot twist, Chapman admitted she didn’t actually manage to catch it as it landed on the carpet in front of the stage.
Jess Battison