Oscars 2025 moments you might have missed: Margaret Qualley dancing, Blackpink Lisa performance, Adrien Brody kiss, and more

In 2003, Adrien Brody won the Best Actor award for his performance in The Pianist. The actor was so excited that he pulled a stunt nobody from the audience expected: he kissed Halle Berry on stage. In an interview, Berry said that the kiss was not planned at all. “I just went with it,” she said.

At the Oscars 2025, Brody and Berry recreated their infamous onstage kiss sending the audience into a frenzy.

At the Oscars 2025, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande delivered a heart-warming performance of Defying Gravity from the Wicked film adaptation. The duo, who play Elphaba and Glinda, stunned the audience with their powerful vocals and emotional delivery.

See also: Oscar nominee for Best Picture ‘Wicked’ evokes a ‘swankified’ take on the beloved Broadway musical

Queen Latifah’s performance at Oscars 2025 was an emotional one. She paid tribute to the late Quincy Jones with Ease on Down the Road from the 1974 musical The Wiz. The tribute honoured Jones’ legacy, as the composer and producer—who passed away on November 3, 2024 at age 91, was a seven-time Oscar awardee. 

Related: Our favourite celebrities who wore Tiffany & Co jewellery at SAG Awards 2025

The longstanding feud between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake has been a focal point in recent music events, particularly during the recent Super Bowl Halftime Show.

At the Oscars 2025, host Conan O'Brien stirred controversy by referencing Lamar’s diss track against Drake with a sharp joke: “Well, we’re halfway through the show, which means it's time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile. Don’t worry, I’m lawyered up.”

The remark sparked mixed reactions from the audience, with some visibly laughing. 

At the 2025 Oscars, BLACKPINK’s Lisa made a stunning debut, both on the red carpet and onstage with a show-stopping James Bond tribute performance. Fresh off her acting debut in The White Lotus Season 3, the K-Pop star took the stage alongside Qualley, Doja Cat, and Raye, delivering a powerful rendition of Live and Let Die by Wings.

Read more: Lisa makes history with second ‘Best K-Pop’ win at the VMAs—meet the artists who came before her

Ariana Grande dazzled in a custom Schiaparelli gown that paid tribute to Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz. The ruby-red strapless dress, adorned with 150,000 Siam sequins, transformed the iconic ruby slipper into a breathtaking couture moment. The gown’s standout detail? A miniature ruby slipper placed on the back of her dress, a clever touch that added an extra layer of magic to her already show-stopping look.

Related: Grammy Awards 2025: The most spectacular jewellery moments at music’s biggest night

Billy Crystal delighted fans by delivering an Oscar-worthy twist on his iconic line from When Harry Met Sally while presenting Best Picture alongside Meg Ryan. As the duo took the stage to the familiar tune of It Had to Be You, they engaged in playful banter about Crystal’s nine-time Oscar hosting history. But the real moment came when Crystal reimagined his classic quote, saying:

“Because when you have a chance to be an Oscar winner for the rest of your life, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

Paul Tazewell etched his name in history at the Oscars 2025, becoming the first Black man to win Best Costume Design. His extraordinary work on Wicked earned him the prestigious recognition, making this his first Oscar win after two career nominations.

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