History seems to repeat itself, particularly when it comes to the Oscars. Hollywood went into a frenzy when a startling interaction between two Academy Award winners on the red carpet brought back a decades-old scene that made headlines.
At the 2025 Academy Awards, Halle Berry startled the audience by reenacting one of the most talked-about scenes in the history of the Oscars. The 58-year-old actress kissed Adrien Brody, star of “The Brutalist,” unexpectedly on the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
An Instagram/Accesshollywood fan comment from March 3, 2025
“I’m sorry, Georgina, but I’ve gotta do it,” Berry said, turning to his partner, Georgina Chapman, as she cut off Brody’s chat with reporters. Then she put an arm over Brody’s neck, took hold of his shoulder, and planted a kiss on his lips. Viewers cheered when Brody swiftly embraced Berry to play along, their reactions a mixture of surprise and delight.
Berry’s daring action has since sparked a heated internet discussion. When someone wrote, “Of course a certain group of women don’t have a problem with this,” they were criticizing the moment. It is impolite. It was described by another as “inappropriate and standard in Hollyweird.” With one reviewer stating, “On the lips is crazy😂,” others, however, found amusement in it.
The more responses that came in, the more heated the online debate became. The kiss’s timing and location were questioned by some viewers, who claimed that it was improper because Brody’s partner was there.
“Well,” said one, “I just think it was kind of done in poor taste in front of his partner.” “How would you feel if somebody did that to you?” the guy then inquired. You are aware that it is messed up. In front of his other half? Another person wrote, echoing the feeling. She’s laughing angrily, or he’s insane.
Others described the situation as “awkward” and “strange,” indicating that they felt uneasy. In a more straightforward statement, one person said, “I think that was rude and disrespectful to his girlfriend.” “Very embarrassing,” said another, “especially with his girlfriend right there.” I bet she didn’t like that.
These responses demonstrated that not everyone shared the same opinion, even though other people thought the kiss was a humorous throwback.
The kiss was all in good humor for Berry. It was “payback,” she said, after Brody’s notorious move at the 2003 Oscars. “For 22 years, I’ve been dying to repay him,” she remarked. “This is my chance to repay him on his special night.”
For a minute, Brody seemed astonished, but he seemed unconcerned. He smiled at Berry and gave her another hug while Chapman, his partner, applauded.
More than twenty years have passed since the two first made news at the Oscars. Berry was the presenter of the Best Actor award in 2003. When she declared Brody the winner of “The Pianist,” she received a surprising reaction.
Brody took her into a passionate kiss as he stepped onto the stage, holding it for a few seconds before releasing it. His address started with a joke, “I bet they didn’t tell you that was in the gift bag.”
One of the most memorable moments of the event was when Berry, clearly surprised, wiped her lips as the cameras rolled. After twenty years, the actress received her retribution. Though it may have provoked controversy, Berry saw her fun move as a lighthearted reference to their shared Oscars past.
Brody’s longterm partner, fashion designer Chapman, seemed unfazed by the online controversy. She actually handled everything calmly. She laughed when asked about the kiss, saying, “How can you deny a man a kiss with Halle Berry?” Playfully, Chapman said, “He was more than fine,” recalling that Berry had stated she was okay with it.
The affair between Chapman and Brody, who have been dating for years, was first made public during the Tribeca Festival in June 2021. But in 2019, the two first became friends at a gathering.
Georgina Chapman and Adrien Brody attend the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 02, 2025, at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California. | Getty Images is the source
“He’s never judged her for past relationships and is always empathetic and caring,” an insider told Us Weekly in 2023, describing Adrien Brody as Chapman’s “most supportive partner.”
Brody’s relationship with Chapman’s kids was also commended by the source, who described him as “amazing” and a “positive light.” It appears the couple accepted the viral kiss, unlike some of the more outspoken internet critics, as Chapman showed no symptoms of worry over the Oscars moment.
