This year’s Oscars were unlike any of its predecessors, not only because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there were also several beautifully progressive and historically significant achievements during the ceremony. For example, Chloé Zhao won Best Director for

Nomadland

, which made her the first woman of color and the second woman ever to win the award. Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson won Best Makeup and Hairstyling for their work in

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

, making them the first Black women to receive this award

.

Anthony Hopkins became the oldest actor to win Best Actor for his performance in

The Father,

while Ann Roth became the oldest woman to win Best Costume Design in

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Another notable moment was when Daniel Kaluuya won Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Fred Hampton in

Judas and The Black Messiah

. Kaluuya began his touching speech with a statement of gratitude to Chairman Fred Hampton of the Black Panthers. He stated that it was an honor to play Hampton in the film and gave him thanks for everything Hampton did for the Black community. Next, Kaluuya thanked his family and co-stars, and ended his speech on a witty note by thanking his parents for helping him receive this award by “having sex!”. The moment he said this, cameras panned to his mother and sister, who were mortified yet amused at the speech’s ending.

TIME

later reported this moment as one of the highlights of the whole ceremony.

Despite these peaks, many people were dissatisfied with the Oscars’ abrupt conclusion. The ceremony’s producers decided that the final award of the evening should be Best Actor rather than the traditional


Best Picture. This decision led many viewers to predict that the Academy would give Best Actor to the late Chadwick Boseman for his work in

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Boseman tragically passed away last year after a private battle with stage IV colon cancer. Therefore, Oscar viewers expected that the Academy’s award rearrangement would allow more time to provide a special tribute to Boseman after announcing his win. However, in a shocking turn of events, Boseman did not receive the award, and instead the Oscar was given to Anthony Hopkins for his leading role in

The Father

. Hopkins, famously known for his Oscar-winning performance as “Hannibal Lecter” in

Silence of the Lambs,

was not present for the ceremony, so actor Joaquin Phoenix accepted the award on his behalf, which made for an underwhelming ending to the Academy Awards, leaving many viewers dismayed and confused. Many viewers reacted angrily, arguing that the Academy’s award rearrangement and promotion exploited Boseman’s death for entertainment. Others were disappointed that Hopkins was not even present to accept the award. However, Hopkins later posted a video explaining that he did not attend the Oscars because he stayed in his hometown of Wales out of health precautions and did not expect to win the award. He thanked viewers for his Oscar, and then dedicated most of his speech to Boseman, stating that he “want[ed] to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who was taken from us far too early.”

Regardless of what happened in this year’s Oscars, no one can deny that the 93rd Academy Awards were anything but ordinary.