It’s been 11 years since that controversial Oscars selfie went viral.
More recently, however, fans of the star-studded soiree have been reflecting on the big-name image, which sees a handful of Hollywood’s biggest A-listers posing together, and have branded it ‘cursed’.
In fact, according to the New York Post, it’s been referred to by some critics as a ‘hellfie’. But why?
Well, you have to look closely to find out…
For those out of the loop, in 2014, during the live broadcast of the Academy Awards, controversial television presenter Ellen DeGeneres rushed into the crowd with her smartphone in hand.
Within minutes, a crowd of Hollywood stars had swarmed around her, with The Hangover actor Bradley Cooper taking a hold of the device to get a better angle to take a photograph alongside DeGeneres and fellow stars.
On the left-hand side of the pic, musician and actor Jared Leto is visible, alongside The Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence, Magic Mike front-man Channing Tatum, and Pretty Woman actress Julia Roberts.
Beside her is fellow movie star Kevin Spacey, alongside Mr And Mrs Smith exes Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o and her brother Peter, and legendary star Meryl Streep.
Just in listing some of these names, we’re hoping it’s quite obvious why the image is now considered rather dubious.
Spacey’s career hasn’t been the same since the allegations were made (9Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)
Let’s start with DeGeneres. The 67-year-old’s name was somewhat dragged through the mud back in 2022, amid accusations of bullying on the set of her self-fronted television series.
10 of her employees accused DeGeneres of creating a ‘toxic’ atmosphere on set, which included ‘racism, fear, and intimidation’ – inclusive of failing to act upon suggestions of executives sexually harassing female employees, ‘making racist micro-aggressions’ to or about employees of colour, firing people for using medical and bereavement leave, and replacing her crew with non-union workers during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Moving onto Kevin Spacey – need I explain?
The actor was fired back in 2017 at the height of the success of his Netflix hit-drama House of Cards, he was accused of sexual assault – both in the UK or the US. Though he was later acquitted, his career has remained somewhat stagnant since.
Despite having been nominated for a staggering 10 Oscars since the photo was taken, Bradley Cooper has never won.
It’s not just careers that tanked following the release of the snap, but also relationships.
Jolie and Pitt split in 2016 (Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
Two years after the photo was taken, parents-of-six Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt called time on their relationship, and have been embroiled in a bitter legal battle over their winery ever since.
In 2023, another individual in the photo – Meryl Streep – was said to have parted ways from her husband of 45 years, Don Gummer, six years earlier.
And whilst his wife and former Step Up co-star Jenna Dewan isn’t included in the picture, four years after the picture, Channing Tatum was landed with divorce proceedings.
Featured Image Credit: Ellen DeGeneres