Adrien Brody just won an Oscar. The last time he was on that stage it turned into a scandal.

Adrien Brody has just joined the prestigious group of actors (all 46 of them) who have won two or more Oscars. Talk about over-achieving, am I right?

Brody took home his second Oscar for the best actor in a leading role at the 97th Academy Awards for his performance in The Brutalist and, given he had been sweeping the awards circuit in the months prior, we can't say we're surprised.

The actor was visibly overcome with emotion throughout his speech, discussing the ebb and flow of his career.

"One thing that I've gained, having the privilege to come back here — is to have some perspective," he told the crowd of Hollywood's A-listers. "No matter where you are in your career, no matter what you've accomplished, it can all go away. And I think what makes this night most special is the awareness of that.

"It is a chance to begin again. And the opportunity to hopefully be fortunate enough that, for the next 20 years of my life, I can prove that I am worthy of such meaningful, important and relevant roles."

Adrien Brody wins his second Best Actor award at the 2025 Oscars. Image: Getty.

It's been 22 years since Brody was last on that Oscars stage, where he made history as the youngest ever Oscar winner in the Best Actor category, which he took home for his role in The Pianist.

And while this momentous occasion was one for the history books, it was also shrouded in controversy.

Why, you might ask? Let's rewind to 2003, shall we?

Watch the uncomfortable moment Adrien Brody kissed Halle Berry on stage at the Oscars. Article continues after video.

Halle Berry had just presented Brody with his Best Actor Oscar. The crowd is cheering, he's brimming with excitement. But rather than simply accepting his award with a heartfelt speech, Brody decided to mark the moment by grabbing Berry — who had made her own history just a year earlier as the first Black woman to win Best Actress — and planting an unexpected, unasked-for kiss on her lips. It's as yucky as it sounds.

At the time, the audience whooped and cheered. It was framed as spontaneous. Brody was seen as this kooky, crazy artiste who was caught up in the moment. The stuff of Hollywood magic! Yikes… I know.

But two decades later, it's safe to say that 'magic' gives us all a collective cringe. In a post #MeToo world, it feels more icky than fun. Because there's nothing sexy or entertaining about watching a woman be kissed without her consent.

While Berry has been very gracious about the whole thing, it's clear she was definitely blindsided by the sudden kiss from Brody. And I think we all were.

"'What the f*** is happening right now?' That is what was going through my mind," she recalled of her reaction at the time, during an interview on Watch What Happens Live in 2017.

"I just f***ing went with it," she said.

Brody kissed Berry on stage when he received his Oscar. Image: Getty.

Now, two decades later, this moment serves as a perfect time capsule of how far we've come in understanding that enthusiasm is never really a good enough reason to plant one on someone who isn't expecting it. Even when you've just won an Oscar.

And since then, the controversy seems to still be following Brody around and, despite the success he's found in his career, no one is forgetting that ever-so-unfortunate moment on one of the biggest stages of the world.

In February, ahead of his appearance at the 2025 Oscars, Brody finally addressed the controversy, claiming that he was not ill-intentioned in his actions.

"We live in a very conscious time, which is a wonderful thing. And nothing that I ever do or have done or would've done is ever done with the intention of making anyone feel bad," he said to Variety.

Adrien Brody now has 2 Oscars. Image: Getty.

Which, in my opinion, is the celebrity equivalent of "sorry you feel that way" rather than an actual apology, but I digress.

When it comes to uncomfortable awards show interactions… the Brody and Berry kiss (if we can call it that) has got to be right up there.

As he made his way in to the ceremony this year, Berry recreated the moment with Brody as she was clearly aware of the growing discourse surrounding their smooch in the lead-up to his likely second win.

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Thankfully, this year's ceremony managed to unfold without any unwanted smooches or boundary-crossing antics. Well, aside from Berry and Brody's recreation.

No one grabbed anyone for a surprise pash, no one thought their excitement entitled them to someone else's personal space, and everyone's bodily autonomy remained gloriously intact. What a time.

Feature Image: Getty.