Teyana Taylor is once again at the center of online chatter — but this time it’s not just about her red carpet look or her Oscar nomination.
The singer and actress sparked a heated debate on social media after a tense backstage moment at the 98th Academy Awards was caught on camera and quickly went viral.
Taylor, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in One Battle After Another, appeared visibly upset in the clip as she confronted a man during the ceremony.
In the video, she can be heard raising her voice and saying, “You’re a man putting your hands on a female. You’re very rude.”
She repeats the statement before turning toward someone nearby who seemed to be asking what happened.
“Because he was putting his hands on a female, he literally shoved me,” Taylor said in the clip.
The video spread rapidly across social media, where viewers quickly split into two camps.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
Some critics claimed the situation looked exaggerated.
“Nobody touched her… She was just making a scene,” one commenter wrote.
Another person added, “Well… this is the night to show off being dramatic, isn’t it?”
A third chimed in, “These celebrities act like they’re so important — umm, you’re really not.”
But plenty of people rushed to defend the actress, arguing that she had every right to call out behavior that made her uncomfortable.
“Why is the narrative always about a ‘fight’ when a Black woman shows emotion?” one user asked.
Another supporter wrote, “Teyana Taylor didn’t hold back. Good for her. Nobody should get touched without consent, especially at an event like that.”
The viral moment only added to what had already been a major night for Taylor.
The 35-year-old earned her first Oscar nomination for her performance as Perfidia Beverly Hills in Paul Thomas Anderson’s film One Battle After Another. Although she ultimately lost the Best Supporting Actress award to Amy Madigan for Weapons, Taylor’s film still walked away with the biggest prize of the night: Best Picture.
Taylor had also gone viral earlier during the ceremony when she jumped to her feet and enthusiastically applauded Madigan’s win — a moment many viewers praised as classy and supportive.
Leading up to the Oscars, Taylor had been a major presence throughout awards season. She previously won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for the same role, helping solidify her status as one of the breakout stars of the year.
Her red carpet appearance also grabbed plenty of attention.
Taylor arrived in a custom Chanel gown featuring a sheer crystal-beaded bodice and a dramatic skirt layered with black and white feathers. She completed the glamorous look with more than 60 carats of Tiffany & Co. diamonds, including a platinum necklace with an 18-carat emerald-cut diamond pendant.
Between the viral backstage confrontation, her Oscar nomination, and her standout fashion moment, Taylor certainly made sure the internet had plenty to talk about after Hollywood’s biggest night.
Ah, The Oscars. Hollywood’s biggest self-aggrandizing cluster *uck of the year. 🙄🥱