Academy Award-winning actor Ariana DeBose did not hold back when a joke about her singing abilities was made at the Critics Choice Awards. The incident occurred during the awards ceremony on Sunday night when “The Last of Us” actor Bella Ramsey jokingly referred to DeBose, Ryan Gosling, and Jack Black as “actors that think they are singers.” This remark visibly upset DeBose, and her reaction was caught by a camera during the live broadcast.
DeBose, renowned for her performances in Broadway musicals like “Hamilton,” took to Instagram later that night to address the joke. In a candid response to her 700,000 followers, she wrote, “No, I didn’t find it funny. Lol.” Clearly, she was not amused by the comment.
The joke was made just before the announcement that Gosling’s song “I’m Just Ken,” from the movie “Barbie,” had won the Critics Choice Award for “Best Original Song.” While a spokesperson for the Critics Choice Association confirmed that Ramsey’s joke was scripted, they declined to comment further on the matter. Attempts to reach Ramsey’s management team for a comment were also unsuccessful.
It is possible that the joke was alluding to DeBose’s memorable performance at the British Academy of Film and Television Art Awards (BAFTAs) last February. During the event, she delivered a freestyle rap about the female nominees, which quickly went viral, generating both praise and criticism from netizens. One user even described it as “simultaneously awful and amazing.” Following the awards show, DeBose seemingly deactivated her account on X, the platform where the rap was shared.
Screenwriter Cinco Paul, who collaborated with DeBose on the musical comedy series “Schmigadoon!,” expressed his disapproval of the joke on X, calling it “so wrong it’s embarrassing.” Paul further defended DeBose’s singing talent by sharing a clip from Season 2 of “Schmigadoon!” as evidence of her remarkable vocal abilities.
Ariana DeBose made history as the first Afro-Latina actor to be nominated by the Academy Awards for her role as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the musical “West Side Story.” Not only did she receive the nomination, but she also went on to win the award. Furthermore, she became the first openly queer woman of color to win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.
DeBose’s management team was unreachable for comment regarding the incident.
For the original article, visit F5mag.com.