Every awkward, unscripted and scandalous moment from the 2025 Oscars.

Let's be honest — the 2025 Oscars ceremony lacked the jaw-dropping drama we've come to expect.

There were no slaps across the face, no envelope mix-ups announcing the wrong Best Picture, and not one celebrity fell down the stairs.

By recent standards, and given this Oscars was one of the most controversial of all time in the lead-up, it was almost disappointingly... normal? But, fear not, there were still some wholesome, surprising and scandalous moments.

From Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's opening performance that had me sobbing happy tears into my morning coffee to the shock wins, the 97th Academy Awards reminded us why we love movies in the first place — they get us in our feels.

Here are the moments you might have missed from the 2025 Oscars.

For every Oscars' moment you missed, listen to The Spill.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande had us all in tears. 

Is there really any other way to start the Oscars than with a Wicked medley? I think not.

The moment those first magical notes of Ariana Grande singing 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow', hit my ears I quite literally ascended. But 'Defying Gravity'? I mean… that absolutely shattered me into a million glittery green pieces.

The control. The power. The emotion. THE RANGE. 

The best performance of the night. Image: Getty.

Can we also talk about the moment when Ariana gently took Cynthia Erivo's hand and kissed it before her solo? And the way Ariana was staring at Cynthia from the side of the stage during that show-stopping high note? We're still crying. Take our money. Take our hearts. Take whatever you want. Just give us more of... whatever magic we just witnessed. 

The awkward moment with Karla Sofía Gascón.  

So, that awkward moment with Karla Sofía Gascón during the opening monologue happened and, honestly, I'm still cringing a little inside. 

Going into the ceremony, there was certainly an elephant in the room following her recently resurfaced tweets containing a string of homophobic and racist comments that had social media in absolute meltdown. 

Karla Sofía Gascón attended the Oscars following her social media controversy. Image: Getty.

But then came the moment when host Conan O'Brien attempted to lighten the mood with some comedy. He referenced the controversy with Karla Sofía Gascón and the camera panned to her. And dare I say…it landed flat? 

"If you are going to tweet about the Oscars, remember my name is Jimmy Kimmel," he said.

The crowd gave a weak laugh. And I digress.

Adam Sandler and his iconic "Chalamet". 

Is any Hollywood event really complete without Adam Sandler and his gym shorts? And, once again, he has stolen the show.

Appearing at the 2025 Oscars, he did what we've all been waiting for him to do since he first tried this joke at the SAG Awards.

He walked up to Timothée Chalamet and yelled, "CHALAMET!" in that classic Adam Sandler way, before kissing him on the head and running off.

I love this man.

lol Adam Sandler (in shorts and a sweatshirt) interrupting Conan O'Brien's Oscars monologue to run up to Timothée Chalamet and hug him

"Chalamet!!!!!!!" pic.twitter.com/F8dvRleEL9

— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) March 3, 2025

Kieran Culkin's speech about his wife. 

True to form, Kieran Culkin used his 2025 Oscars acceptance moment to deliver a quirky yet charming speech… and mostly about his wife, Jazz Charton.

"About a year ago, I was on a stage like this and I, very stupidly, publicly, said that I want a third kid from her because she said if I won the award, I would, she would give me the kid. It turns out she said that because she didn't think I was going to win," he laughed.

Watch Kieran Culkin's Oscars acceptance speech. Article continues after video.

He went on to explain that his wife had agreed to give him four children if he won the Oscar and, well, well well.

"Then I just have this to say to you, Jazz, love of my life, ye of little faith. No pressure. I love you. I'm really sorry I did this again. And let's get cracking on those kids. What do you say? I love you!" he said, wrapping up his speech.

Wicked makes history. 

Paul Tazewell is the first black man to win for costume design at the Oscars. Image: Getty.

Wicked won for best Costume Design and are we really surprised? Because every costume in that film was impeccable.

And with his win, costume designer Paul Tazewell made Oscar history.

"Thank you to the academy for this very significant honour. I'm the first black man to receive a costume design award for my work on Wicked. I'm so proud of this," he said in his acceptance speech.

Ariana Grande's ruby red slipper. 

Not only did she wow us with her tear-jerking performance on the Oscars stage, but she also gave us one of the most on-brand and intriguing dresses of the entire night.

The red dress she wore while performing on stage was a nod to The Wizard of Oz, with a ruby red slipper heel poking out of the back.

The iconic ruby red slipper. Image: Getty.

The bizarre James Bond tribute.

Questions. Lots of questions about this one.

Don't get me wrong… Lisa, Raye and Doja Cat were absolutely incredible in their individual renditions of the iconic James Bond tunes. But the whole thing did come out of nowhere.

As we watched the mish-mash of performances, we were all collectively trying to decipher what we were watching. Are they going to announce the next Bond? Is it a Bond anniversary? Apparently no and no.

Also, did Margaret Qualley — as beautiful and talented as she — dancing in the intro confuse anyone else? Like what is the correlation? I'm still confused.

Anyway, the girlies were amazing so we'll take it.

🚨| Margaret Qualley dancing with The Eras Tour dancer Jan Ravnik at the #Oscars

pic.twitter.com/sEaz8jn52T

— Taylor Swift Updates (@TSUpdating) March 3, 2025

Zoe Saldaña's wholesome win. 

Watching Zoe Saldaña waving to her mum from the Oscars stage and dedicating her Academy Award to her grandma was enough to have us all in tears.

"I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award and I know I will not be the last," she said.

"I hold the fact that I am getting an award for a role where I got to sing and speak in Spanish... My grandmother, if she were here, she would be so delighted. This is for my grandmother."

Zoe Saldaña's wholesome speech. Image: Getty.

Kendrick Lamar and Drake reference.

Even at the Oscars, we can't escape the Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud.

"We are halfway through the show which means it's time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a paedophile," he said.

Yikes.

Between Hollywood's biggest night and Kendrick's recent Superbowl performance AND Grammy win, Drake really can't catch a break.

omg this Oscars joke from Conan O'Brien

"Well, we're halfway through the show, which means it's time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile" pic.twitter.com/d7gzCFHfsF

— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) March 3, 2025

Tribute to the LA firefighters.

In an unexpected twist, the Oscars paid tribute to the brave LA firefighters with a segment that managed to be both heartfelt and hilariously entertaining.

Rather than going the traditional sombre route, Conan O'Brien transformed the moment by having the uniformed heroes deliver perfectly-timed comedic lines that had the audience in stitches.

Standing ovation for LA firefighters at #Oscars2025 pic.twitter.com/Qep9tVAlNz

— George X🇺🇸 (@georgex08939939) March 3, 2025

LA FD Captain Erik Scott stole the show with his deadpan delivery.

"Well, our hearts go out to all of those who have lost their homes. And I'm talking about the producers of Joker Two."

The gum-throwing after Adrien Brody's win.

As per our guesses leading up to the award season, Adrien Brody won the Oscar for Best Actor. But, surprisingly, it wasn't the win or his speech that had people talking online. It was his gum. Yes, you read that correctly.

Following his name being announced, and as Adrien was walking up to accept his award, he turned and seemingly threw something at his girlfriend.

Low and behold… it was his gum.

Truly, nothing says "I love you" quite like handing your partially masticated gum to your spouse on live television.

Adrien Brody throwing his gum to his girlfriend while going up to accept his Oscar pic.twitter.com/rU08nNMyUL

— Shannon Burns (@itsshannonburns) March 3, 2025

Mikey Madison won the Oscar for Best Actress.

She won! Image: Getty.

In a delightful moment that had us all out of our seats, Mikey Madison claimed the Best Actress Oscar for her work in Anora. Everything about the moment was wholesome. From her clutching her golden statuette to her co-stars cheering from their seats (and honestly, weren't we all cheering from our couches too?), it was too much.

Although, while Madison's triumph was certainly well-deserved, many viewers did express surprise on social media, as industry veteran Demi Moore had been widely considered a strong contender for her role in The Substance.

The Academy zigged when everyone thought they would zag — proving once again that Hollywood's biggest night is eternally unpredictable.

A When Harry Met Sally reunion.

The reunion we've been waiting for. Image: Getty.

Just to add to the wholesome vibes of the evening, we had a sweet reunion between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan.

Given When Harry Met Sally is one of the most beloved rom-coms of all time, seeing these two icons together on the Oscars stage brought back all the warm, fuzzy feelings. Their chemistry remains as delightful as ever, reminding us why their romantic comedy has endured for over three decades.

Anora sweeps the night.

Anora swept the Oscars this year! Image: Getty.

In a stunning awards season redemption arc that has film Twitter absolutely buzzing, Anora — the indie darling that was shockingly shut out at the Golden Globes — just swept the Oscars in spectacular fashion.

Taking home Oscars for Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture, Anora is officially the movie of the year. And we love to hear it.

Feature Image: Getty / ABC.