Imagine losing the biggest award of your career over cats.
Some media outlets have been hounding actress Jessie Buckley of "Hamnet" fame for not being a cat person. She told her future husband that his two cats weren't welcome in their boudoir. It's the cats or me, she shared in a media interview. That was enough to rile both Cat Nation and those who might want to dethrone her chances at a Best Actress win come Sunday night.
Yes, the Oscars are back this weekend, and along with it, the most absurd attacks against the would-be winners. And Buckley is a favorite to win the golden trophy for her emotional turn in director Chloe Zhao's film, unless she's scratched by cat claws.
And, lest we think it's much ado about nothing, Buckley gamely attempted to correct the record on "The Tonight Show."
That's Damage Control 101, something that's also top of mind for actor Timothee Chalamet of "Marty Supreme" fame. He recently said very few folks are interested in ballet or opera in modern times. It's sad, but it's hardly an inaccurate statement.The good news for the talented actor? His imbroglio reached its peak after voting had officially closed.
Oscar season often involves attacks against nominated films, often pushed by competing films and studios. Remember the smear campaign against 2001's "A Beautiful Mind?" Critics claimed the film whitewashed its protagonist, John Nash.
True or false, the film won Best Picture honors all the same.
Last year, trans performer Karla Sofia Gascon's problematic comments over George Floyd, Islam and the Oscars ceremony derailed her film's momentum ("Emilia Perez") and any chance of a Best Actress win.
The wrong social media posts can outweigh a stunning performance. Heck, decade-old jokes once prevented Kevin Hart from hosting the annual awards gala.
Oscar voters are even more precious of late. Consider the latest round of anonymous voter stories that peeled back the curtain on awards season. Here's how two voters addressed "One Battle After Another," a film glorifying violence against the government for enforcing immigration laws.
The Hollywood Reporter shared this awkward anecdote:
I loved One Battle, but there were flaws — I heard from a lot of friends in the Black community that they were troubled by the character Perfidia Beverly Hills, and I really hear that.
Variety offers a similar hot take from an Oscar voting member:
“Are we allowed to finally talk about why ‘One Battle After Another’ is a bad movie, or are we still just pretending it’s not the most problematic movie for the Black community since maybe ‘Green Book’?”
The Oscars revealed its new woke guidelines for Best Picture nominees following the George Floyd riots. Check this box, or this box or good luck getting a nomination for the year's most coveted prize.
Now, the slightest media interview can spell doom for a nominee. Or, the film in question won't perfectly align with the voters' preferred political leanings.
Or something. Anything.
Maybe voters should choose the best films and performances and call it a day?
Christian Toto is the founder of HollywoodInToto.com, the Right Take on Entertainment. He's also the host of The Hollywood in Toto Podcast.
