Sat, June 27, 2026 at 3:31 PM UTC
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We tune in to award shows to see who will be named the “best of the best” in their careers and art forms, but sometimes celebrities use them as opportunities to share their thoughts and opinions on a global scale. Here are XX times celebrities called out the industry, their peers, and more during award ceremonies:1. When Nicki Minajasked, “Miley, what’s good?” at the 2015 VMAs:2. When Michael Moore told the president of the United States to be ashamed of himself while accepting his Oscar for Best Documentary in 2003.
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5. When Marlon Brando sent Sacheen Littlefeather to decline his Oscar in 1973, and she was jeered onstage.
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6. When Patricia Arquette used her 2015 Academy Awards speech to demand wage equality.
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7. When Viola Davis told everyone exactly what was wrong with Hollywood at the 2015 Emmys.
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8. When Halle Berry made history at the 2002 Oscars, and her speech was devastating in the best way.
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9. When Jodie Foster sort of came out, called out celebrity culture, and left everyone baffled at the 2013 Golden Globes.
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10. When Frances McDormand introduced the entire film industry to the inclusion rider at the 2018 Academy Awards.
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11. When Kendrick Lamar’s 2016 Grammy performance was a statement nobody in the room could ignore.
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12. When Quentin Tarantino used his 1994 Palme d’Or speech to declare war on mainstream filmmaking.
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13. When Brenda Fricker dedicated her 1990 Oscar to “all the lonely people”.
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14. And lastly, when Bong Joon-ho called out the film industry’s obsession with English-language cinema at the 2020 Golden Globes.
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Are there any award show moments we missed? What’s your award show moment where a celebrity made a statement? Share it in the comments or the anonymous form below.
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