If last year was the year of the selfie at the Oscars, then 2015 was definitely the year of the photobomb.
Sure, Benedict Cumberbatch has turned into a photobomb ninja during awards season, ever since he pulled one over on U2 frontman Bono at last year’s ceremony, but with his wife Sophie Hunter and parents in attendance alongside the nominee, he was on his best behavior Sunday night.
Benedict Cumberbatch… always having the most fun. #Oscars (@TheAcademy) pic.twitter.com/nMgM1HAqMF
— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/falloutdmitri/status/569833353286791168
Without Ellen DeGeneres to orchestrate another giant selfie/product placement and prime photobombing opportunity and with Cumberbatch out for the count, it was up to everyone else to fill in the gaps. Many of the celebrities wanted reporters to #AskHerMore, but it was the end of another long awards season, so they also wanted to have fun.
And throughout the uneven night, they accomplished that with varying degrees of success.
1) One Jennifer got another
Photo bombed by my favorite couple… Jennifer and Justin!! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/D8PISyoyMu
— jlo (@JLo) February 23, 2015
As presenters, both Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez had a fairly easy night, particularly after their few moments on stage were over. At one point in the ceremony, Lopez wanted to get a selfie, but Aniston and her fiancé Justin Theroux wanted in on the fun. Her selfie with Meryl Streep went a lot better, but she was a good sport about it.
2) Lupita Nyong’o’s brother snuck in
.@Lupita_Nyongo chatting with @alroker on the #oscars red carpet (Lupita’s brother with the photobomb!) pic.twitter.com/fTMaXCfgxU
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 23, 2015
“@callmedollar: Look at Lupita’s brother in the back. LOL! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/4kDR3ThUby” yall gone see me if I have to photo bomb errthang
— Jérron….stuff…thangs (@Jerron1234) February 23, 2015
The 2014 Best Supporting Actress winner brought her brother Peter Nyong’o as her date to the Oscars again, and as Lupita talked to reporters on the red carpet, Peter stood at a distance—but at an angle that reporters (and the Internet) could still spot him. Luckily for him she didn’t hold any grudges, rounding out the night at an afterparty where she introduced him to Beyoncé.
3) Jared Leto: serial photobomber
Photobomb: Jared Leto strikes again at the Oscars http://t.co/cz7hhYCi1y pic.twitter.com/le9EL4aqva
— ITV News (@itvnews) February 23, 2015
King of photobombing strikes again. #JaredLeto #Oscars2015
— Thirty Seconds To Mars support (@30STM_fanatic) February 23, 2015
*credits to the owner* pic.twitter.com/YehrPAm6l4
Having already photobombed Anne Hathaway at last year’s Oscars, Jared Leto was a natural heir to the Benedict Cumberbatch photobombing crown. And sure enough, he took his chances whenever he could. But it’s his photobomb of Patricia Arquette’s acceptance speech that really took off—and an unintentional one at that, as he was the one to present her the award.
https://twitter.com/TLyzen/status/569698700320251904
4) Chrissy Teigen’s red carpet stare
Photobomb game strong for Chrissy Teigen at the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/0CCq29Q3dq
— WFAA (@wfaa) February 23, 2015
Chrissy Teigen was there to support her husband John Legend, who took home the award for Best Song for “Glory.” It was a fleeting moment as she glared at the camera from behind ET’s Nancy O’Dell, but she was a strong contender early on in the night. And if you noticed a lack of Teigen during the later parts of the ceremony, there was a reason for that.
John Legend: Chrissy Teigen has been crying since we won the Oscar, but didn’t want to get caught on camera & become a meme again #Oscars
— Natalie Abrams (@NatalieAbrams) February 23, 2015
5) Jeff Goldblum’s interview was happily interrupted
Watch Ed Begley Jr. photobomb Jeff Goldblum on the #Oscars red carpet: http://t.co/C2ke16yvnj pic.twitter.com/YU7EJBUUCO
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) February 23, 2015
He was in the process of talking to Entertainment Weekly when his friend and longtime actor Ed Begley Jr. videobombed it, slowly creeping in just like the Jaws theme music. It quickly turns into a duo comedy bit and lovefest between the two actors.
6) Emma Stone’s Oscar moment
Emma Stone may not have won the Oscar, but she just won the internet. #oscars pic.twitter.com/DuSjU3InIY
— Glamour (@glamourmag) February 23, 2015
The camera cut to Emma Stone after showing her clip from Birdman for her Best Supporting Actress nomination. She looked composed as always, but two things instantly popped out around her: her Lego Oscar, which, let’s be honest, is a lot cooler than one of those other statues, and her costar Edward Norton right behind her.
7) John Travolta wins Best Creep
Congrats John Travolta… You single handidly creeped out the #Oscars2015 pic.twitter.com/GbD1ivA1xz
— Tim Williams (@realtimwilliams) February 23, 2015
Here we are!…@idinamenzel #JohnTravolta @TheAcademy @ABCNetwork @GMA pic.twitter.com/ocjx8TcInJ
— Neil Meron (@neilmeron) February 23, 2015
We’re not really sure what John Travolta (or Glom Gazingo) was doing last night. Between photobombing and getting too close to Scarlett Johansson‘s face and getting too close to Idina Menzel while they presented together, he definitely raised some eyebrows and is quickly turning into a meme. We’re not letting this one go anytime soon.
Illustration by Max Fleishman
