Ariana DeBose Deactivates Twitter After 2023 BAFTAs Rap Goes Viral, Producer Calls Out ‘Unfair’ Backlash

Nicole Kidman is going viral for a moment that happened at the 2023 Academy Awards on Sunday night (March 12) at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Everything Everywhere All At Once leading the nominees.As the stars gathered at the venue, Graham interviewed Grant on the red carpet for ABC. The conversation quickly went viral online thanks to the British star’s concise answers. Asked if he was hoping to see anyone win, he replied: “No one in particular.”Graham then asked, “What are you wearing tonight, then?” to which Grant responded: “Just my suit.” The presenter then asked the actor about shooting the Knives Out sequel Glass Onion, in which he made a cameo.

A viral rumor somehow got started on Twitter today, causing both Pete Davidson and Ice Spice‘s names to trend.

Ariana DeBose's viral BAFTAs rap, in which she declared «Angela Bassett did the thing,» has received its own Jimmy Fallon parody.The 48-year-old host pulled out his Neil Diamond impression to cover DeBose's name dropping performance, playing the guitar and harmonica and singing in Young's signature crooning style.«Neil Young did the thing. S/O to @arianadebose and of course, @im.angelabassett #FallonTonight,» account captioned the video.DeBose was clearly a fan, reposting the video to her Instagram Stories with a mind-blown emoji.A post shared by The Tonight Show (@fallontonight)The 32-year-old Oscar winner went viral earlier this month while performing at the 2023 BAFTAs with an original rap in which she declared, “Angela Bassett did the thing, Viola Davis my ‘Woman King,’ Blanchett Cate you’re a genius, Jamie Lee you are all of us.«The initial online backlash caused DeBose to deactivate her Twitter account, but the stage and screen performer has since embraced the pop culture moment, referencing it whilepresenting at the SAG Awards this past weekend.

gushed to Deadline Saturday night, explaining that the lack of enthusiasm on the crowd’s face was in part due to cameramen shoving cameras into the actor’s faces.Both DeBose, 32, and Curtis were in attendance at Sunday night’s SAG Awards at the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel in Los Angeles, California. Curtis dazzled in a low plunging red gown while DeBose was pretty in pink in a two-piece suit.“Angela Bassett did the thing, Viola Davis my ‘Woman King,’ Blanchett Cate you’re a genius, Jamie Lee you are all of us,” DeBose, 32, rapped at the opening of the BAFTAs, which quickly became a meme.The clash of applause and critique from the internet prompted the Golden Globe-winning actress to deactivate her Twitter account.“She is a fantastic talent, these people should shut the f–k up, back the f–k off and let this woman shine just her light,” Curtis chided the haters.Her comments join in the chorus of praise for the performance amidst the online disgust – even BAFTA showrunner Nick Bullen slammed the critics, saying they probably “don’t like change.” “The songs she was singing are very familiar songs, the room was clapping, and people were sort of dancing to the music,” Bullen told Variety.

Jamie Lee Curtis is not holding back.

Jamie Lee Curtis has defended Ariana DeBose and her viral BAFTAs rap.Last weekend, DeBose opened the 2023 BAFTAs by performing an original song that name-checked various Best Actress nominees including Angela Bassett, Cate Blanchett and Michelle Yeoh.The performance proved divisive online though, with some people calling it “cringe”. Following the backlash, DeBose deactivated her Twitter account with BAFTAs awards producer Nick Bullen described the criticism as “incredibly unfair.”“Everybody I’ve spoken to who was in the room absolutely loved it.

Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, performed an original song at the ceremony earlier this week that name-checked various Best Actress nominees including Bassett, Cate Blanchett and Michelle Yeoh.“Angela Bassett did the thing, Viola Davis my Woman King, Blanchett Cate you’re a genius, Jamie Lee you are all of us,” sang the West Side Story star as she danced around the stage. After the performance was widely mocked online, DeBose deactivated her Twitter account and BAFTAs awards producer Nick Bullen described the criticism as “incredibly unfair.”Speaking to Variety at the NAACP Image Awards last night (February 25), Bassett said she checked up on DeBose after the incident and the criticism that followed.“I DM’d her last night.

Ariana DeBose's now-infamous rap performance at the 2023 BAFTA Awards has officially come full circle. During Saturday night's 54th NAACP Image Awards, the breakout star of DeBose's viral rap, Angela Bassett, proved she knows how to carry a joke while accepting her Entertainer of the Year award onstage.«I guess Angela Bassett did the thing,» she quipped to the audience's laugher.«I guess Angela Bassett did the thing» — Angela Bassett as she accepts her entertainer of the year award at the #NAACPImageAwardspic.twitter.com/mevSTcKhUSThe reference is to DeBose's opening for the 2023 BAFTA Awards, in which she performed «Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves» and «We Are Family,» and the infamous original rap where she shouted out the awards show's female nominees. “Angela Bassett did the thing, Viola Davis my 'Woman King,' Blanchett Cate you're a genius, Jamie Lee you are all of us,” sang DeBose. The camera panned to the women as they were name-dropped. Memes quickly made their rounds on social media among a wide range of responses, which seemingly led DeBose to deactivate her Twitter account. But on Instagram DeBose reacted graciously, commenting on a carousel of memes with, «Honestly I love this.»In a preview for an upcoming interview on BBC Radio 2's  posted on TikTok, the  star brushed away the criticism and focused on the love she's received.

Angela Bassett opened up about being told she “did the thing” by Ariana DeBose during a now-viral performance that opened the 2023 BAFTAs.

J. Kim Murphy Angela Bassett has simply done the thing once again. After being name-dropped by Ariana DeBose in a rap that opened the BAFTA Film Awards, the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” star tells Variety that she reached out to DeBose in the aftermath to check in on her. “I DM’d her last night. I did. It was beautiful,” Bassett told Variety senior entertainment writer Angelique Jackson on the red carpet at the NAACP Image Awards on Saturday evening. “I just wanted to make sure she was okay because, you know, it’s a lot of attention. And she is A-Okay.”Angela Bassett DM'd Ariana DeBose. "I just wanted to make sure she was okay, because it's a lot of attention." https://t.co/JAcEviI0Qj pic.twitter.com/anzVhOZ0cc Bassett’s mention was one of the catchier lyrics in DeBose’s opener. DeBose, who won last year’s BAFTA and Academy Award for best supporting actress for her performance in “West Side Story,” kicked off the British Academy Film Awards on Feb. 19 with a rap that name-dropped several of the evening’s nominees, including directors honored in debut feature and women competing in both the lead actress and supporting actress categories. The production also featured renditions of “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves” and “We Are Family.”

Ariana DeBose is speaking out for the first time since her “Angela Bassett did the thing" rap performance at the 2023 BAFTA Awards went viral.In a preview for an upcoming interview on BBC Radio 2's  posted Saturday on TikTok, the star brushes away the criticism and instead chooses to focus on the love she's received. Ball's among DeBose's fans who loved the performance, saying «it was a woman, singing and dancing, being magnificent, celebrating women onstage.»«You know what, you might be one of the few [who loved the performance],» DeBose said. «I'll take it, because you're my people!»DeBose, who opened the 2023 BAFTA Awards performing “Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves” and “We Are Family,” as well as an original rap where she shouted out the awards show's female nominees, shared a bit about how the performance came about.«Honestly, it's not like I'm like, 'Hey BAFTA, let me in.' They actually called me, believe it or not,» she said.

Ariana DeBose’s show-stopping musical number at the BAFTAs that included a rap shout-out to the women acting nominees by name has become a cottage industry. Now, the actress herself is fueling the fun, sharing some of her favorite online jabs on Instagram Saturday.

BAFTA Film Awards.The actor, best known for starring in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, performed an original song at the ceremony that name-checked various Best Actress nominees including Angela Bassett, Cate Blanchett and Michelle Yeoh. After the performance was widely mocked online, DeBose deactivated her Twitter account.On her Instagram account, which has remained active, DeBose has responded to various memes about the performance.

Ariana DeBose was this year’s opener at the BAFTA Awards, one of the most prestigious awards shows in the film industry. DeBose kicked off the evening with a song and a rap that celebrated some of this year’s performers, including some of the women of color that earned nominations this year. The opening number has been met with some controversy, particularly in Twitter, where many memes have been shared.

Ariana DeBose has seen the memes about her viral BAFTAs rap performance and «loves» them as well! The  star took to Instagram on Monday to react to a carousel of memes that are a nod to her saying «Angela Bassett did the thing» on the awards show stage. «Honestly I love this,» DeBose commented under a post from writer Evan Ross Katz. A post shared by Evan Ross Katz (@evanrosskatz)On Saturday, DeBose performed the opening number at the 76th British Academy Film Awards in London. Her mash-up included “Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves” and “We Are Family,” as well as an original rap where she shouted out the awards show's female nominees. “Angela Bassett did the thing, Viola Davis my 'Woman King,' Blanchett Cate you're a genius, Jamie Lee you are all of us,” sang DeBose.

Ariana DeBose has deactivated her Twitter account after online commentators attacked her opening number at the 2023 BAFTA Awards. However, one of the event's producers was quick to come to the  star's defense, calling the backlash «incredibly unfair.» DeBose performed “Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves” and “We Are Family,” as well as an original rap where she shouted out the awards show's female nominees. Sisters are doing it for themselves! The incredible @ArianaDeBose opens the 2023 #EEBAFTAs with an iconic performance! ✨ pic.twitter.com/G9YgKN2e1t“Angela Bassett did the thing, Viola Davis my ‘Woman King,’ Blanchett Cate you’re a genius, Jamie Lee you are all of us,” sang DeBose.

The 2023 BAFTAs on Sunday were supposed to be about the awards, but social media is focused on just one musical performance from the evening.

continued her habit of at the last on February 19—this time, with a Maison Margiela dress that she first wore to the Oscars in 2015. The Australian star, who picked up the best leading actress award for her powerful performance in Tár, wore a reworked version of the original black gown, with the frayed detailing on the sleeves and the hem being much more noticeable this time around. When it came to accessories, Blanchett showed how a switch-up can instantly update a look. The actor originally paired the gown with a statement turquoise necklace by , but opted for a necklace by for its latest outing.

The Prince and Princess of Wales showcased their playful side while stepping out for date night at the 2023 BAFTA Awards.