Anthony Hopkins speaks out after Oscars viewers say Chadwick Boseman was ‘robbed’ of posthumous statue

Daniel Kaluuya’s speech, Glenn Close’s dance, Frances McDormand’s howl highlight Oscars

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Many Oscar viewers were aghast Sunday night when Chadwick Boseman didn’t receive a posthumous Oscar.

Typically the ceremony ends with the announcement of best picture, but this year, the award for best actor was moved to the end. The restructuring seemed to indicate that Boseman, who picked up a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award and Critics Choice Award for his performance as Levee in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” had also earned an Oscar. 

© VALERIE MACON, AFP via Getty Images The late Chadwick Boseman died in August 2020.

Surprising many, the “Black Panther” star, who died in August at 43 after an undisclosed battle with colon cancer, lost to Anthony Hopkins for his role in “The Father.”

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Hopkins did not attend the ceremony or give a speech, making for an abrupt end to the broadcast. But the 83-year-old actor – now the oldest winner in any acting category – acknowledged Boseman in a post-show acceptance video shared to his social media accounts early Monday from his home in Wales. 

“At 83 years of age, I did not expect to get this award. I really didn’t,” Hopkins said. “I’m very grateful to the Academy. Thank you. I want to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who was taken from us far too early. And again, thank you all very much. I really did not expect this, so I feel very privileged and honored, thank you.” 

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Hopkins’ post was met with with praise for his performance in “The Father,” garnering virtual applause from fans and stars including Alec Baldwin and Kate Beckinsale. But throughout the internet, the win sparked controversy.

User @blockbustedpod described the ending as “MAXIMUM chaotic energy.”

“Every single indication felt like they moved around the categories so that Chadwick Boseman would win best actor at the very end of the show. And then Anthony Hopkins wins, doesn’t give a speech, and they roll credits,” they tweeted.

Comedian @CyrusMMcQueen also couldn’t believe the outcome, tweeting: “A dying man gives the performance of a lifetime… The last performance of his lifetime… Leaves it all up there… and you don’t give him the trophy?!”

Writer Keah Brown said Boseman “doesn’t deserve whatever bait and switch that was. His memory will be honored regardless.”

Matthew Levy posted that the ending channeled 2017’s chaotic Oscars envelope mix-up: “Chadwick Boseman not winning the Oscar has to be a ‘Moonlight’ mix up scenario.”

MSNBC’s Joy Reid wrote the Oscars had a “Game of Thrones style ending.“ She added, “Andra Day and Chadwick Boseman were robbed… #Oscars.”

Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas disagreed with the decision. “Respect to Anthony Hopkins, but the Academy whiffed,” he tweeted. “Chadwick Boseman as Levee Green will be remembered well into the future.”

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Some also took issue with the show order. Mike Ryan, a senior entertainment writer for Uproxx also shared his frustration. “Yeah the ‘let’s put Best Actor last so, obviously, we can celebrate the life of Chadwick Boseman’ really backfired.” Still in awe, he added: “Yeah that was terrible.”

Film critic Dan Murrell called the new show order a “massively bad idea.” Murrell said it “overshadows the fact that both Anthony Hopkins and Chadwick Boseman were brilliant and one of them had to win. The spotlight is now shining solely on the producers. Huge mistake. From In Memoriam on, this show was a disaster.”

For Baltimore magazine editor-in-chief Max Weiss, Hopkins’ absence was icing on an inedible cake. “So they moved Best Actor to the final award, only to have Anthony Hopkins WHO WASN’T FREAKING THERE win?” Weiss wrote. “Excellent work all around. Bravo. Top-notch.” 

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User @JRK316 called out the organization with a past lacking diversity. 

“imagine THE ACADEMY rewarding a performance that squarely addresses a racist industry exploiting black talent,” they tweeted, adding: “The Oscars, Grammys, etc. are not the standard. We give those awards too much gravitas and we should stop immediately. I tune in for the humor because it’s all a joke.”

Boseman was honored with this year’s gift bags. All nominees will receive one-of-a-kind digital artwork created by artist Andre Oshea to honor Boseman. The artwork will be redeemable by an NFT – a non-fungible token. The NFT itself will then be auctioned off by Rarible through Tuesday, with proceeds donated to The Colon Cancer Foundation.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Hopkins speaks out after Oscars viewers say Chadwick Boseman was ‘robbed’ of posthumous statue