The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has responded to the complaint by Oscar nominee Teyana Taylor over the behaviour of a security guard who manhandled her in the closing moments of the ceremony.
In footage that circulated on social media after the telecast on Sunday, Taylor can be heard telling someone off-camera that they are “a man putting your hands on a female. You’re very rude. Very rude.”
Other attendees intervened, but the details remained unclear, and the audio muffled. Taylor can also be heard telling the person behind her “because he’s putting his hands on a female” and “he literally shoved me”.
She then added: “Do not touch me, do not shove me.”
In a statement obtained on Monday afternoon by Entertainment Weekly, the Academy addressed the incident, saying they were “extremely upset” to learn of it.
“We have worked with Teyana over the last several months during awards season, and she has been nothing short of remarkable, supportive, kind and all about community,” the statement reads.
Winners … Taylor on stage with Paul Thomas Anderson after One Battle After Another won best picture. Photograph: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
“Though the incident was with our outside security firm SIS, the experience of every single guest is our responsibility. We have made it clear to them that this behaviour is not acceptable.”
The statement ends: “We want to thank Teyana for showing remarkable grace, and we are taking the appropriate measures to ensure this does not happen again.”
Earlier on Monday, security firm Security Industry Specialists, Inc told EW, “There was a brief interaction involving Ms Taylor and a member of our security team during the show last evening.”
Enthusiasm for Amy Madigan taking the best supporting actress award. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters
It continued: “During that interaction, there was incidental contact and we regret that the situation escalated. This is not the standard of professionalism we expect from our team, and we have addressed the matter internally to help ensure situations like this do not happen again.”
Taylor spoke to TMZ after the ceremony, saying “security was just doing a lot”. “I’m proud, I’m happy. There’s nothing to wonder. The first thing people do is definitely make assumptions, but at the end of the day, I just don’t tolerate disrespect – especially when it’s unwarranted and unprovoked.”
She also addressed her conspicuous enthusiasm when category rival Amy Madigan won best supporting actress for Weapons, saying detractors were people who had “grow[n] comfortable being sore losers, so when they see real sportsmanship it unsettles them! Like holy water touching a demon. Because clapping for someone else’s victory requires something many people never learned … how to win with grace and pure joy, and how to lose with grace, chin up and dignity.”
Taylor also told Variety that her putting director Paul Thomas Anderson into a wrestling hold while picking up the best picture award was a “little inside joke. He already knew the headlock was coming.”