A night of celebration quickly turned into a storm of controversy at the 2025 Oscars after the Best Lead Actress award was announced. Fans expected one outcome—but the Academy had other plans.
The 2025 Academy Awards saw fierce competition in the Best Lead Actress category, with nominees including Demi Moore, Cynthia Erivo, Mikey Madison, Fernanda Torres, and Karla Sofía Gascón.
In the end, the Oscar went to Madison for her performance in “Anora,” a romantic comedy. However, the result did not sit well with many viewers. Social media erupted with reactions, with fans arguing that Moore, who starred in “The Substance,” was more deserving of the award.
Mikey Madison wins the #Oscar for Lead Actress pic.twitter.com/32pUmqxhRO
— Variety (@Variety) March 3, 2025
On X, users called Madison’s win a “slap in the face for Demi Moore.” One person wrote, “Demi’s reaction was so painful to watch, you can see she was completely shocked, that was her award, it was her time, and the Academy took it away from her. Gosh, I am so furious.” Another added, “Demi wasn’t pleased.”
Others focused on Moore’s visible reaction during the announcement. One user simply wrote, “Demi Moore’s reaction,” accompanied by four crying emojis. Another wrote, “Wow, Demi was really expecting it [sic].”
Some found the moment heartbreaking, with one person stating, “Breaks my heart looking at Demi. She wqs [sic] so nervous, breathing heavy, thinking this was her moment—and was robbed.”
Despite the outrage, some balanced their disappointment with praise for Madison. “Anyway, I’m happy for Mikey Madison, she was great, but also sad for Demi Moore. You could see on her face that she was really disappointed,” one user shared.
Another expressed a similar sentiment, “Congratulations to all the winners at the Oscars! Ms. Demi Moore, heart-wrenching to see you not winning, but more projects to come for you, and hopefully, you’ll win one someday!”