Why this photo of Oscar nominees all in same room sparked controversy
Ahead of this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, we can’t help but look back to the build-up to last year’s ceremony, as its big photo raised more than a few eyebrows.
Before 2025's 97th Oscars, Hollywood’s biggest names gathered in Los Angeles for a traditional pre-show celebration that brought nominees together in one space. The annual luncheon, which usually takes place earlier in the year, was delayed due to the Los Angeles wildfires happening at the time.
This meant the star-studded get-together arrived much closer to the big night than usual.
Images from the event quickly began circulating online, showing rows of actors, filmmakers and creatives seated inside a theatre-style venue. Among those pictured were several major contenders from across the categories — including Demi Moore, Timothée Chalamet and Ralph Fiennes — all photographed alongside fellow nominees as they posed for a large group portrait.
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At first glance, the snap looked like a typical Oscars tradition: a polished reminder of the talent competing for one of the industry’s most prestigious honours.
On the other hand, it didn’t take long for viewers to start analysing every detail of what became a viral image, and the conversation soon shifted away from red carpet excitement and towards something far more divisive.
The controversy erupted after social media users noticed what they believed was a striking imbalance among the nominees pictured.
Many pointed out the overwhelming number of male stars in the room, with several comments gaining traction across platforms as audiences debated representation within the awards season.
When the BBC uploaded the picture, one user commented: “That’s a lot of white men!!!”
Many shared the sentiment, with one noting: “Look how many men...”
One more added: “There are a lot of men."
Another summed up the outrage some of the commenters were feeling: “Cinema is about life and storytelling. Women are 50% of us and all our human history. Women are underrepresented in Hollywood.
"That is all."
Others carried on with the trend of keeping their feeling concise, with another saying: “Too much men, so sad."
While the image itself featured some of last year’s female nominees — including Ariana Grande, Zoe Saldaña, Monica Barbaro and Isabella Rossellini — the wider conversation online couldn’t help but centre on whether the visual highlighted a broader issue within the industry.
The gathering where the photo took place was attended by the 2025 Oscars’ 172 nominees, which was hosted at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood by comedian and podcaster Conan O’Brien.
As with previous years, the luncheon was designed to celebrate the achievements of everyone recognised by the Academy, but the snapshot quickly became a talking point beyond the films themselves.
Topics: Oscars, Social Media, Celebrity, Entertainment
Ben Williams