Angela Bassett began trending on Twitter Sunday night (March 12) after she lost to Jamie Lee Curtis in the Best Supporting Actress category at the Oscars. Bassett was nominated for her role as Queen Ramonda in Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Curtis won for her performance as Deirdre Beaubeirdre in Everything Everywhere All At Once. Bassett fans flocked to Twitter after noticing that the Black Panther star did not clap nor get up for Curtis. Her face also visibly showed that she was disappointed. which some users commented calling the actress “shady” while others understood the actress being hurt by the loss.
“Angela Bassett not standing up for Jamie Lee Curtis is kinda shady. I get you’re upset for not winning but damn…,” one user Angela Bassett not standing up for Jamie Lee Curtis is kinda shady. I get you’re upset for not winning but damn…. #Oscars #Oscars2023
A fan came to her defense Good for Angela Bassett not smiling nor clapping. Y’all expect Black women to not only be exceptional, but be happy for other who get accolades we deserve over and over.
Another viewer came to Bassett’s defense when it was noticed that Diane Warren who was nominated for Best Original Song for “Applause” from Tell It Like a Woman did not stand up or clap for the Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava for their song “Naatu Naatu” for RRR which won the category. Warren was nominated alongside Rihanna (“Lift Me Up” for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), Lady Gaga, and BloodPop (“Hold My Hand” for Top Gun: Maverick), and Son Lux (“This Is My Life” for Everything Everywhere All at Once).
“Diane Warren didn’t clap….are y’all going to complain about this too or only Angela Bassett?,” the fan wrote.
Last night’s nomination was Bassett’s second following her Best Actress nod for her role as Tina Turner in the biopic What’s Love Got to Do With It in 1994. Bassett was Marvel’s first actor nominated for an Oscar.
Take a look at how fans reacted to Bassett’s snub below: