What Is The Ellen DeGeneres Oscars Selfie Curse?
Ellen DeGeneres' viral 2014 Oscars selfie turned 10 this year, and it has aged like milk.
Many of the A-list stars featured in the internet-breaking photo have since encountered some misfortunes in their careers or personal lives -- something the New York Post dubbed as a "curse."
In the selfie, then-Oscars host DeGeneres, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Jared Leto, Meryl Streep, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, Lupita Nyong'o, her brother Peter, Channing Tatum, and Kevin Spacey can be seen flashing huge smiles at the camera during the 2014 Oscars telecast.
But as noted by the outlet, since the photo was taken, several stars featured in the iconic selfie were hit with "cancellations, high-profile marriage implosions, and crumbling careers."
Spacey faced a series of sexual assault and misconduct allegations beginning in 2017, resulting in his firing from his hit series "House of Cards," public backlash, and a halt in his once-thriving career.
Spacey, who has won two Academy Awards as an actor, was later cleared of some of the charges, while the others were dropped.
In 2020, DeGeneres fell from grace after "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" was hit with allegations from employees of an alleged toxic workplace environment full of racism, bullying, and fear.
In a BuzzFeed report, three producers were accused of harassment, sexual misconduct, and assault.
The scandal was suspected to be the reason why "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" ended in 2022, though DeGeneres claimed she quit because her show was "just not a challenge anymore."
Meanwhile, three of the stars in the famous selfie have parted ways with their partners at the time that photo was taken.
Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt in 2016. They have since finalized their split, but they remain embroiled in legal battles over their French winery, Chateau Miraval, and the custody of their minor children, with Jolie accusing Pitt of being abusive.
According to a recent Page Six report, Streep separated from her husband of 45 years, Don Gummer, in 2017.
As for Leto, he has been accused of showing abusive behavior toward women and running a cult since winning the Oscar for best supporting actor in 2014 for his performance in "Dallas Buyers Club."
Several of his most recent movies, including "Suicide Squad," "Zack Snyder's Justice League," "House of Gucci," "Morbius," and "Haunted Mansion," ended up becoming box office flops or disappointments, the New York Post noted.
According to the outlet, the same goes for Roberts, whose movies have mostly disappointed in the box office over the past decade -- except for 2022's "Ticket to Paradise."
Lawrence and her "Silver Linings Playbook" co-star were not completely unscathed by the so-called "curse" as well.
Insider noted that the "No Hard Feelings" actress became widely disliked at one point. Cooper was accused by social media users of "Jewface" over his use of a prosthetic nose in "Maestro," which has been described by some as "Oscar bait."
However, Lawrence, who was nominated for an Oscar for "American Hustle" when the selfie was taken, went on to receive another Academy Award nod the following year for "Joy." She tied the knot with art gallery director Cooke Maroney in 2019, and they have since welcomed their first child together.
Cooper, who was also nominated for "American Hustle" during the 2014 Oscars, received 10 more Academy Award nods in the decade that followed, though he has yet to win. But he has several chances to get his first Oscar this year as "Maestro" is up for seven Academy Awards, including three for Cooper.
The 96th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theater at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.
