Oscars slammed for ‘baiting’ viewers with the promise of a Chadwick Boseman win

All eyes were on the Best Actor award tonight, with the heavy favourite being Chadwick Boseman. Now, the Academy has been accused of “setting up” fans.

It wouldn’t be the Oscars without a major upset.

But this year, fans are accusing the Academy of something much more sinister, lashing out at organisers for seemingly “setting up” a Chadwick Boseman posthumous win only to give Best Actor to Anthony Hopkins for The Father.

In a further twist, Hopkins wasn’t even there via satellite to accept his award.

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It comes after Boseman, nominated for his final performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, was honoured throughout the night with special NFT digital artwork gifted to nominees.

It was also noted that the order of the awards was rearranged, presumably so the event could end on a tribute to the late actor, who died of cancer in August last year at the age of 43.

Instead, the night ended rather abruptly, and it didn’t go unnoticed.

Wait what was that Game of Thrones style ending?? Andra Day and Chadwick Boseman were robbed... #Oscarspic.twitter.com/ykMorfq6qy

— Joy-Ann Pro-Democracy & Masks Reid 😷 (@JoyAnnReid) April 26, 2021

The Oscars were so sure that Chadwick Boseman was going to win that they REARRANGED THE ENTIRE CEREMONY so his category could be last, and then they gave the award to Anthony Hopkins instead...the most chaotic and unhinged thing I've ever seen.

— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) April 26, 2021

Wait, did the Academy hold Best Actor until the end because they assumed Chadwick Boseman would posthumously (and rightly) win and then he didn't, so they're like "WELP, good night!"#Oscars

— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️‍🌈 (@cmclymer) April 26, 2021

For the record I thought Anthony Hopkins and Riz Ahmed (and Delroy Lindo, who was robbed of a nomination) had the best leading performances of the year and it still felt like the Oscars were setting up for a Chadwick moment only to fumble it in the most awkward way possible

— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) April 26, 2021

Others accused the Academy of “baiting” viewers to keep them hooked until the end of the broadcast.

The #Oscars not only used Chadwick’s image for profit but they deliberately rearranged their category showing to have his go up last to boost their viewership, only to hand the award to someone else. https://t.co/HD2YxZTCt4

— Black Panther 2 Updates (@WakandaUpdates) April 26, 2021

They build the entire show around a Chadwick Boseman ending and then Anthony Hopkins won and didn't show up

— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) April 26, 2021

I haven't seen The Father so I ain't gonna complain that Anthony Hopkins won. Besides, I read that he was great. However, it was a mess putting the Best Actor category last, baiting a Chadwick Boseman finish, then giving the award to someone else (who wasn't even there). #Oscars

— Kim Yvan U. Manuel (@kimanuel04) April 26, 2021

However, close friend of the late star Franklin Leonard said he “wasn’t even stressed” about the snub, given Boseman wouldn’t have been himself.

Honestly not even stressed about Chadwick not winning, because I know Chadwick wouldn’t have been stressed about not winning.

He would, however, want us to go back to work tomorrow aiming unconscionably high in both art and humanity. So that’s what Imma try to do. #Oscars

— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) April 26, 2021

Boseman, whose death from a private battle with cancer shook the industry last year, was the favourite to win after sweeping the category in every major award show this year, including the Golden Globes.

His wife, Simone Ledward Boseman, has been accepting the awards on his behalf.

The Best Actor gong is the second Oscars win for Anthony Hopkins. The 83-year-old also won for The Silence of the Lambs in 1992.

It makes him is the oldest winner of an acting Oscar ever, exceeding the record set by Christopher Plummer when he won best supporting actor at 82 for 2011’s Beginners.

Hopkins also picked up Best Actor for The Father at the BAFTAs last week.