• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Unknown rules everyone at the Oscars has to follow or risk being thrown out

Home> Entertainment> Film

Published 23:42 2 Mar 2025 GMT

Unknown rules everyone at the Oscars has to follow or risk being thrown out

The Academy Awards has strict rules

Michael Slavin

Michael Slavin

When it comes to going to the Oscars, you’d think a room full of the most powerful and famous people around would be able to do more or less what they want.

You only have to look as far as this year’s Grammys debacle involving Kanye West and Bianca Censori to see why you’d think celebs basically have free reign.

The truth is actually far from this, as everyone from Timothee Chalamet to Cynthia Erivo will have to follow certain rules or risk being thrown out.

Photos taken moments before disaster (Axelle / Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images)
Photos taken moments before disaster (Axelle / Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images)

Advert

Of those film stars attending the Oscars today, here are some of the rules they will actually have to follow, as found by researchers at Northerner.

Wristbands

So, believe it or not, if the celebs want to be let in they need to have a wristband that will allow them access to the awards.

You want in Demi Moore? Don’t care if you’re on the poster behind us, you better have your wristband.

In reality many of the bigger names would probably be fine to get around this, but if they want to follow the letter of the law or you don’t have the sway of a big name, you'd better remember your wristband.

Oscar winning speeches

Now this goes beyond the Will Smith debacle, as the rules saying you can’t walk up and slap someone mid-speech is more so just common sense.

Advert

The rules around speeches are actually that they have to be kept under 45 seconds.

If you go over that amount of time, there is a real and clear chance those running the event will simply start playing music over you until you bugger off.

Believe it or not? Against the rules (REUTERS / Alamy Stock Photo)
Believe it or not? Against the rules (REUTERS / Alamy Stock Photo)

The longest ever speech? Four minutes, all the way back in 1943 by Greer Garson.

Though not explicit rule, the content of your speeches can also get you in hot water, as Richard Gere was banned for 20 years after ignoring his script to speak about China’s occupation of Tibet.

Rules for seat-fillers

Believe it or not, not everyone at the Oscars is a celebrity, as the awards pick 300 people to be ‘seat-fillers’.

Advert

Their role is simple – when Christopher Nolan goes for a pint at the bar or to the little director’s room for a wee, someone is plopped in his seat to give the audience the appearance of being full on the broadcast.

The seat-fillers are assigned specific seats, that isn't John Travolta (TIMOTHY A CLARY via Getty Images)
The seat-fillers are assigned specific seats, that isn't John Travolta (TIMOTHY A CLARY via Getty Images)

These select people have to arrive at 10.00am for the ceremony, have to have their outfits approved, and even have to wear badges saying they are a seat-filler.

In addition to this, they are asked not to speak to those around them unless spoken to.

While I’m sure they don’t have snipers on the ready in case a member of the public tries to say hi to Greta Gerwig, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Featured Image Credit: Christopher Polk via Getty Images

Topics: Oscars, Film, Entertainment, TV and Film, Celebrity, Academy Awards

Michael Slavin
Michael Slavin

Michael Slavin is LADbible's dedicated specialist Film and TV writer. Following his completion of a Masters in International Journalism at Salford University, he began working for the Warrington Guardian as a reporter. Throughout this he did freelance work about Entertainment for publications such as DiscussingFilm, where he was the Film and TV editor. Now, he is LAD's go to voice on all things Netflix, True Crime, and UK TV, as well as interviewing huge global stars such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Daisy Ridley, and Ben Stiller.

X

@michaelslavin98

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 9 hours ago

    People are only just noticing the ‘questionable’ Don’t Stop Me Now Queen lyrics years later

    To be fair, it is a cracking song

    Entertainment
  • 9 hours ago

    Martin Scorsese stopped working with Warner Bros after they tried to make decision over film with huge IMDb score

    The two camps did not see eye-to-eye over the Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon classic

    Entertainment
  • 9 hours ago

    Dating coach says one text message from a partner could actually be a very worrying sign

    Another one to add to the list, guys

    Entertainment
  • 10 hours ago

    Noel Gallagher spent years moving brother Liam's furniture around to convince him there was a ghost

    The Oasis frontman appears to be rather concerned by the paranormal

    Entertainment
  • How much Conan O'Brien is being paid to host this year’s Oscars
  • Harrison Ford health diagnosis explained after actor was forced to pull out of presenting at Oscars
  • Viewers disgusted by 'actually offensive' opening skit from Oscars host Conan O’Brien
  • Oscars viewers shocked after realising which well known actor is doing the voice-over for all the awards