Oscars 2023

Tems Offered A Simple Response To Criticisms Of Her Controversial 2023 Oscars Dress

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Tems‘ Oscars dress was one of the most talked-about outfits this past weekend. During the Academy Awards, the Nigerian singer-songwriter, who was nominated for Best Original Song for her work on Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, wore a white dress with a large puffy portion that wrapped around her head.

In pictures from the ceremony, some of the people seated behind Tems are seen struggling to see the stage, as Tems’ headpiece appears to obstruct the view. It appears Tems has caught wind of the comments.

Yesterday (March 13), she took to Instagram sharing pictures from the night, cheekily captioned, “Uh Ohh!”

She took to Twitter to double down on the fact that she is unbothered, sharing another set of photos captioned “Oops” with a blushing emoji.

Over the course of the night, the dress spurred mixed reactions from viewers.

“If I was I sitting behind Tems, I would be the most annoying asshole. Because WHY would you wear that and block people’s view???,” said one Twitter user.

Another Twitter user called the outfit “Very rude,” adding that “it shows her lack of self-worth.”

While some were not particularly thrilled about the outfit, several of Tems’ fans chimed in to defend the dress.

One fan said “Imagine waiting your whole life to be at the Oscars and having the Honor of Tems presence.”

Another fan suggested that the criticisms of her outfit may be rooted in racism, due to a lack of backlash for outfits worn by similar stars in the past.

“The backlash Tems is receiving from white people and Africans is just borne [sic] out of racial prejudice. Nothing more,” said another fan. “Where was that ‘rude’ talk when Gaga wore an outfit that blocked those behind her? It’s our sister now, and they are yapping, just to cancel her.”

Oscar Nominee Tems’ Absurdly Expansive, View-Blocking Dress Inspired Jokes And Fury In Equal Measure

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Tems attended the Oscars with a nomination in the Best Original Song category for co-writing “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther. The song, performed by Rihanna during the broadcast, lost to “Naatu Naatu” (by Kala Bhairava, M. M. Keeravani, and Rahul Sipligunj) from RRR. Yet Tems — as with fellow nominee Lady Gaga (who performed “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick) — also made headlines for what materialized on the red carpet.

Actually, Tems’ red carpet look overflowed into the semi-stratosphere of the Dolby Theatre. The “Essence” collaborator (who nabbed a spot on our the Most Anticipated R&B Albums Of 2023 list) attended the awards ceremony in a Lever Spring/Summer Couture dress. The gown burst out of all structural confines on the red carpet, and that includes the dramatic headpiece, which remained in place when she took her seat.

As a result, several people who were seated behind and surrounding Tems ended up not being able to see the show. The “stratus cloud” effect was real:

Yep, Tems ended up blocking views from people who either tweeted about this absurdity or were photographed as such.

Was this a “rude” move as noted on Twitter?

Or was this a case of purposefully “taking up space” to express confidence with being seen and heard as a Black woman?

Both statements can be true and valid, as a few Tweeters noted.

Still, the debate raged between people who found Tems’ strategy to be less than polite at a seated event (the headdress could have been adjustable, at least?)…

… and those who offered plentiful support for the aforementioned “taking up space” concept.

The rest of our Oscars 2023 coverage can be viewed here.

Just The Thought That He Maybe Saw Rihanna At An Oscars Event Left ‘The Last Of Us’ Star Pedro Pascal Stunned

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Pedro Pascal Vanity Fair Oscars Party Academy Awards 2023
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Pedro Pascal had a big day yesterday (March 12). Aside from the Season 1 finale of The Last Of Us debuting last night, the actor was also a presenter at the Academy Awards, where his sister Javiera Balmaceda (Amazon’s head of Originals, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Chile for Prime Video) was on hand to represent the Oscar-nominated Argentina, 1985. There were a ton of stars on hand for both the actual Oscars ceremony and for the Vanity Fair afterparty, and at the latter, Pascal was momentarily immobilized when he thought he saw Rihanna.

Towards the start of a red-carpet interview with Chicken Shop Date host Amelia Dimoldenberg, as the two exchanged opening pleasantries, Dimoldenberg asked Pascal how he’s doing. As she asked the question, though, Pascal’s demeanor became more serious and distant as he looked off behind Dimoldenberg. After pausing for a few seconds, he asked, “Is that Rihanna?”

(It was not Rihanna he saw from behind, but rather, Saweetie.)

Dimoldenberg quipped that if it was Rihanna, Pascal should abandon the interview and go introduce himself. Pascal responded, “I will literally shove you out of the way.” Dimoldenberg said she’d do the same thing in his shoes and he replied, “If you didn’t do it, I wouldn’t understand.”

Pascal very clearly had Rihanna on the brain all night: In an earlier red-carpet interview at the actual Oscars with Ashley Graham, Pascal spoke about what he was looking forward to that night. He said he was happy to support his sister and to just watch the show before asking, “Is Rihanna performing?”

Rihanna, by the way, did perform.

Rihanna’s ‘Lift Me Up’ Performance At The Oscars Garnered The Singer A Standing Ovation, And Rightfully So

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Rihanna’s Super Bowl LVII performance may have sparked quite a few (unjustifiable) compliments to the FCC, there’s no one complaining about her performance during tonight’s (March 12) 2023 Oscars ceremony. Gleaming with immaculately jeweled costuming and pregnancy bliss, performed “Lift Me Up” from Wakanda 2: Wakanda Forever.

The moving tribute track to the late actor Chadwick Boseman brought the entertainer out of musical retirement. With her baby bump on full display, Rihanna took the stage built out to resemble the breathtaking nature shots shown in the film. Backed by a full orchestra and a host of background singers, the singer belted out the emotional lyrics to the song, which was rewarded with a standing ovation after her conclusion.

Watch the full performance of “Lift Me Up” below.

When asked about what went into creating the tribute track, co-writer Tems said, “After speaking with [director Ryan Coogler] and hearing his direction for the film and the song, I wanted to write something that portrays a warm embrace from all the people that I’ve lost in my life. I tried to imagine what it would feel like if I could sing to them now and express how much I miss them. Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honor.”

Nick Cannon And His Nearly Dozen Children Were The Butt Of An Oscars’ Opening Monologue Joke

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Nick Cannon June 2022
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All eyes are on the 2023 Oscars for several reasons. The first, of course, is the potential history to be made depending on who walks away with the winner. The second is whether or not and in which ways this evening’s host Jimmy Kimmel will address last year’s infamous. Well, during Kimmel’s opening monologue, the television host and comedian held nothing back, starting with the slap.

But as the monologue continued, a few other public figures caught a few strays, including television host, actor, rapper, and comedian Nick Cannon. Cannon and his eleven children were on the receiving end of Kimmel’s throwaway jokes.

When poking fun at Avatar: The Way of Water and just how much money the film had to earn in order to break even, Kimmel pulled in Cannon’s large family. “Avatar: The Way of Water was the most expensive movie ever made. Disney spent 2 billion dollars to make this movie. Just to break even, all of Nick Cannon’s children had to see Avatar four times,” joked Kimmel.

Cannon hasn’t commented on the joke just yet. However, he, himself has used his love of procreation as a punchline in his own works. In fact, earlier this week, Cannon filmed a mock game show skit titled, Who’s Having My Baby, with Kevin Hart.

Rihanna Is Following The Super Bowl With Another Major Live Performance At The 2023 Oscars

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The 95th Academy Awards are going down on March 12, and it was revealed today (February 23) that there’s going to be a major reason for music fans to tune in: Rihanna will be performing her Black Panther: Wakanda Forever song “Lift Me Up” during the Oscars broadcast.

This of course comes shortly after Rihanna’s beloved recent performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

“Lift Me Up” is nominated for Best Original Song at the 2023 ceremony (her first-ever Oscars nomination), as are Lady Gaga and Bloodpop’s “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick; Diane Warren’s “Applause” from Tell It Like A Woman; M.M. Keeravaani and Chandrabose’s “Naatu Naatu” from RRR; and Ryan Lott, David Byrne, and Mitski’s “This Is A Life” from Everything Everywhere All At Once. “Naatu Naatu” already has one win this awards season, at it was named Best Original Song, Motion Picture at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards over nominees by Rihanna, Gaga, and others.

“Lift Me Up” co-writer Tems previously said of the song, “After speaking with [director Ryan Coogler] and hearing his direction for the film and the song, I wanted to write something that portrays a warm embrace from all the people that I’ve lost in my life. I tried to imagine what it would feel like if I could sing to them now and express how much I miss them. Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honor.”

Rihanna And Lady Gaga Got Nominations For Best Original Song At The 2023 Oscars

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Today (January 24), the nominees for the 95th Annual Academy Awards were unveiled live, and there were a ton of surprises. For the category of Best Original Song, there were five total nominations.

Most notably, Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever earned Rihanna her first ever nod for an Oscar. The music was done by her, Tems, Ryan Coogler, and Ludwig Goransson.

“It’s her experience with loss in there, and her being a mother. She’s a new person now,” Coogler revealed to Collider about Rihanna’s impact on the song. “I hear it in her voice. It’s her, but it’s a new her.”

Lady Gaga also was a big-name nominee, as her “Hold My Hand” collaboration with Bloodpop from the Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack earned the Academy’s attention.

Rounding out the category, Diane Warren’s “Applause” from Tell It Like A Woman; M.M. Keeravaani and Chandrabose’s “Naatu Naatu” from RRR; and Ryan Lott, David Byrne, and Mitski’s “This Is A Life” from Everything Everywhere All At Once were nominated, too.

Just a few weeks ago, “Naatu Naatu” won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song, making it the possible frontrunner for the Oscars race as well. Fans in the Academy’s replies also seem intensely happy that the song got a nod.

The Oscars ceremony will be held on March 12 at 8 p.m. ET, where the winners — including for this category — are revealed live.

Continue scrolling for some fan reactions to the 2023 Best Original Song Oscar nominees.

Rihanna, The Weeknd, And Taylor Swift Were All Included In The Oscars’ Shortlist For Best Original Song

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released its shortlists for a bunch of categories — an annual tradition — and the category for Best Original Song features some familiar names including Drake, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd. Remember, these aren’t the official nominees, just the field that Academy voters will narrow down to make up the five-option field ahead of the actual awards voting.

Among the shortlisted songs are a number of the signature singles from some of the year’s biggest franchise sequels, including Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Avatar 2: The Way Of Water, and Top Gun: Maverick. According to Billboard, 81 songs were eligible in this category, with 15 making the shortlist. That number will be whittled own to five official nominees. The 15 shortlisted songs are:

“Time” — By Drake, Giveon Evans, Jahaan Akil Sweet, Daniel Pemberton

From Amsterdam, 20th Century Studios

“Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)” — By The Weeknd, Steve Angello Josefsson, Sebastian Ingrosso, Axel Hedfords, Simon Franglen

From Avatar: The Way of Water, 20th Century Studios

“Lift Me Up” — By Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Rhianna, Tems

From Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Studios

“This Is a Life” — By David Byrne, Ryan Lott, Mitski

From Everything Everywhere All at Once, A24

“Ciao Papa” — By Alexandre Desplat, Roeban Katz, Guillermo del Toro

From Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Netflix

“Til You’re Home” — By Rita Wilson

From A Man Called Otto, Sony Pictures

“Naatu Naatu” — By Kala Bhairava, M. M. Keeravani, Rahul Sipligunj

From RRR, Variance Films

“My Mind & Me” — By Amy Allen, Jonathan Bellion, Selena Gomez, Jordan K Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Michael Pollack

From Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, Apple Original Films

“Good Afternoon” — By Benj Pasek, Justin Paul

From Spirited, Apple Originals

“Applause” — By Diane Warren

From Tell It Like a Woman, Samuel Goldwyn Films

“Stand Up” — By Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, Jazmine Sullivan

From Till, Orion/United Artists Releasing

“Hold My Hand” — By BloodPop (Michael Tucker), Lady Gaga

From Top Gun: Maverick, Paramount Pictures

“Dust & Ash” — By J. Ralph

From The Voice of Dust and Ash, Matilda Productions

“Carolina” — By Taylor Swift

From Where the Crawdads Sing, Sony Pictures

“New Body Rhumba” — By Pat Mahoney, James Murphy, Nancy Whang

From White Noise, Netflix

Doja Cat’s ‘Vegas’ Is Not Eligible For An 2023 Oscars Nomination And An Academy Awards Rule Seems To Indicate Why

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Doja Cat December 2022
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Doja Cat cracked the top 10 of Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart and hit No. 3 on the Radio Songs chart with “Vegas,” her contribution to the Elvis soundtrack, but the song unfortunately will not earn her an Oscar, according to Variety.

“The lead single from the soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann’s Presley biopic, it was written by Doja Cat and producers Roget Chahayed and Yeti Beats, but its interpolation of the Presley classic “Hound Dog” (by Mike Stoller and the late Jerry Lieber) apparently doomed it for consideration,” the publication reported. “Oscar rules demand that both words and music must be ‘original, and written specifically for the motion picture’ and must be the result of ‘creative interaction between the filmmakers and the songwriters who have been engaged to work directly on the motion picture.’”

The same report published today (December 12) relayed that the Tár score has also been disqualified from Oscar contention: “While some sources claimed that the dramatic score exceeded the minimum 35% of total music in the film, as called for by Academy rules, it may have run afoul of another rule that states ‘a score shall not be eligible if it has been diluted by the use of pre-existing music.’”

The full nomination field for the 95th Academy Awards will be unveiled January 24, and the ceremony is slated for March 12. See the full 2023 Oscars timeline here.