The 6 Most Unforgettable Bleep-Worthy Moments at the Oscars, from Kevin Hart’s Passionate Speech to Melissa Leo’s Uncensored Slip

Mar. 15, 2025

Kevin Winter/Getty; Michael Caulfield/Michael Caulfield

Academy Awardspeeches can be memorable for a variety of reasons: Occasionally, the winner says something that becomes instantly quotable (Sally Fieldand her “You like me! Right now, you like me!") or controversial (Will Smithtearfullyaccepting his Best Actor Oscarat the same ceremony where heslapped presenter Chris Rockearlier in the telecast).

After the common phrase, " … and the Oscar goes to”, the recipients of the coveted golden statuette take to the stage to express their appreciation and gratitude from a pre-written note or their phone. Other winners are so genuinely shocked that they admit to not having anything prepared and wing it.

Here are some notable moments of celebrities getting censored on the Oscars stage.

2019: Spike Lee While Accepting the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar forBlacKkKlansman

Kevin Winter/Getty

Iconic filmmakerSpike Leetook home his first competitive Oscar in 2019 as part of the writing team that adapted Ron Stallworth’s memoir,Black Klansman, into the screenplay for the Lee-directed 2018 filmBlacKkKlansman.

Lee —dressed in an all-purple Ozwald Boateng suitin honor of the late musicianPrince— pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket as he walked up the steps to the stage. After jumping into the arms of presenterSamuel L. Jackson, a friend and frequent collaborator, Lee approached the microphone to a standing ovation and loud cheers. Before getting to his list of thanks, Lee’sopening line was promptly bleeped.

New York Timesreporter Kyle Buchanan shared that night that Lee said, “Do not turn that motherf—— clock on.”

2016: Kevin Hart Introducing The Weeknd

Kevin Hartdelivered a moving speech about diversity while presenting at the 2016 Academy Awards; however, a censor in Hart’s speech left many social media users at the time wondering just what the comedian said.

“I want to take a moment to applaud all of my actors and actresses of color that didn’t get nominated tonight,” the comedian said, addressing the#OscarsSoWhite controversythat plagued the award ceremony after people of color were shut out of all acting categories for the second year in a row.

“At the end of the day, we love what we do; we’re breaking major ground doing it,” he continued. “These problems of today will eventually become problems of the old. Let’s not let this negative issue of diversity beat us, let’s continue to do what we do best and work hard. With that being said …”

Then, amid an onslaught of applause, it seemed the comedian gave a “congratulations” to his fellow actors and actresses of color, but part of the comedian’s final statement — as well as the audience’s applause — was momentarily muted.

His actual words, though, were, “With that being said, goddamn it, congratulations,” as heard in thisuncensored clip.

Mark Mangini dropped the F-bomb when he and David White accepted the Oscar for Best Sound Editing onMad Max: Fury Road, exclaiming, “F—–' Mad Maxers, let’s hear it!”

“I’m gonna hear it from my wife, so that’s about as big a regret as one can have,” Mangini later said backstage.

2015: Patricia Arquette While Accepting the Best Supporting Actress Oscar forBoyhood

As she composed herself to accept her Best Supporting Actress award for the 2014 coming-of-age film,Patricia Arquettemuttered “Jesus” and then a word that didn’t get past the Oscars censors (as seen in the uncensored versionon YouTube), though it looked like she merely said “whoa.” (Perhaps they thought she was going to say “Christ.")

AsIndieWire reportedin 2024, saying “Jesus Christ” on prime-time broadcast television is an offense as censorable to the FCC as saying the word “f—.")

So, while those at home didn’t hear that one word before her speech, theydidhear her epic, meme-inducing call for wage equality,perVanity Fair.

2012: Director T.J. Martin While Accepting the Best Documentary Feature Oscar forUndefeated

From left: Producer Rich Middlemas and directors T.J. Martin and Dan Lindsay accept the Best Documentary Feature Oscar for ‘Undefeated’ during the 84th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, Calif., on Feb. 26, 2012.ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

The uncensored version the Academy sharedon YouTubeshows Martin saying it would “be f—— wonderful” if everyone could be onstage with them.

“First and foremost, I’d actually like to apologize for that,” Martin later said backstage,according toVariety. “I don’t think that was the classiest thing in the world; however, with that said, it did come from the heart.”

2011: Melissa Leo While Accepting the Best Supporting Actress Oscar forThe Fighter

Melissa Leo accepts Best Supporting Actress for ‘The Fighter’ during the 83rd annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on Feb. 27, 2011.Michael Caulfield/WireImage

Arguably, the most well-known F-bomb drop in Oscars' history goes to Melissa Leo. The actress, who appeared visibly nervous, dropped the curse word while joking thatKate Winsletmade accepting the honor look “so f—— easy.”

While theofficial Oscars clipis censored, it looks like the word wasn’t bleeped during the broadcast, as captured in a video sharedon YouTube.

Leo later discussed the moment during a 2011appearance onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show.

“What I do know, I thought later on after it caused such a stir, is I was talking about Kate and remembering two years ago when I had been [at the Oscars] and this past summer, I got to work with Kate Winslet.”

Leo continued, " … She’s delightful and curses like a sailor all the time. So she was in my mind. And, yeah … it’s Kate’s fault.”

source: people.com