Culture

Chadwick Boseman Didn’t Win The Best Actor Oscar And Everyone Is Rightfully Pissed Off

Who knew the Oscars could have an ending somehow WORSE than the whole 'La La Land' debacle?

by Michelle Rennex  26 April 2021
chadwick boseman oscars anthony hopkins reactions

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In the most anti-climatic and disappointing end to an awards show ever, the Oscar for Best Actor did not go to Chadwick Boseman.

Abruptly ending the show with no speeches or closing remarks, Anthony Hopkins quietly won Best Actor for his role as Anthony in The Father. However, Chadwick Boseman was tipped to posthumously win the award for his role as Levee in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, following his Best Actor win at the Golden Globes.

Also up against Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal), Gary Oldman (Mank), and Steven Yeun (Minari), Boseman was still the Best Actor frontrunner even with Hopkins BAFTAs win in the same category.

With an Oscars ending somehow worse than the whole La La Land debacle from a few years back, the unexpected decision has truly left viewers shocked, and with a serious case of whiplash as the Oscars ceremony suddenly ended with Hopkins nowhere to be seen and with no acceptance speech given.

In fact, despite the Oscars traditionally ending with the Best Picture award, this year the ceremony order was flipped to end with Best Actor. Almost as though the Academy had set the audience up for a definite Boseman win, but were also already aware of the upset that would be caused by not giving the Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom star his well-deserved Oscar.

With Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom being the last film Chadwick Boseman starred in before he tragically died of colon cancer last year, this means the actor no longer has any chances to win an Oscar.

People online have shared their feelings that the disappointing result ruined an otherwise good awards night. Moreover, the decision to award Anthony Hopkins with Best Actor over Chadwick Boseman also means that the quality of both actor’s outstanding performances have been overshadowed by the Academy’s decision. Even though Hopkins has made history as the oldest actor to take home the award, no one will remember it. Instead, the focus will always be on how Boseman was snubbed during his final chance to secure an Academy Award.

Not only this but the decision to rearrange the ceremony to have Best Actor category show last means the Oscars also lost their opportunity to properly celebrate the life and work of Chadwick Boseman with the abrupt ending of the broadcast following the surprising win.

Despite not officially winning an Oscars during his career, I think we can all agree that Chadwick Boseman will always be a winner in our hearts. And the Academy will never live this decision down.