The Oscars have had their fair share of viral moments, but nothing tops that famous selfie Bradley Cooper took back in 2014. It was supposed to be a fun, star-studded snapshot, but looking at it now? Feels a little cursed.
A bunch of the people in that picture have been “canceled” for one reason or another, and honestly, it hasn’t aged well.
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So, what happened to the stars in the selfie?
Ellen Degeneres’ downfall wasn’t pretty
Ellen DeGeneres was on top of the world for years. Her talk show was huge, running for 19 seasons, and she had this whole “be kind” brand that made people adore her. But behind the scenes? Not so great.
In 2020, Buzzfeed dropped an exposé about the toxic work environment on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, with employees alleging racism, s*xual misconduct, and bullying by higher-ups.
Ellen wasn’t directly accused, but people felt she should’ve known. By 2022, the show was over, and just like that, her career took another nosedive — just like it did back in the ‘90s when she came out as gay and lost her sitcom.
Kevin Spacey’s career ended in scandal
Kevin Spacey was one of Hollywood’s biggest names until 2017, when actor Anthony Rapp accused him of s*xual assault.
More allegations followed, and he got dropped from House of Cards. He denied everything, saying it was all “madness.”
Some charges got dropped, and in 2023, he was found not guilty in both the US and UK. Even so, his reputation never really recovered.
People are divided on Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt’s case is complicated. His ex, Angelina Jolie, accused him of physically abusing her and their kids during a 2016 flight. She says their divorce was to protect them.
Pitt, on the other hand, completely denied it, and his lawyer released a statement saying he only takes responsibility for what he actually did, not what he’s been accused of.
Some people online think he should be “canceled,” while others believe he’s untouchable.
The selfie seemed fun at first
When that selfie happened, it was just meant to be a goofy, spontaneous moment at the Oscars. Ellen, Bradley Cooper, Meryl Streep, and a bunch of other A-listers squeezed into the frame, and it immediately went viral.
It was everywhere. But now? Knowing what we know? The whole thing feels… off.
Hollywood’s love affair with cancel culture
Cancel culture has taken down some huge stars, and it’s not slowing down. Whether it’s for serious allegations or just past mistakes catching up to them, Hollywood isn’t as forgiving as it used to be.
And this selfie is just proof of that.
Some careers bounced back, others didn’t
Spacey tried to fight back in court. He won his cases, but Hollywood has pretty much shut him out. Ellen? She still has fans, but her career isn’t what it used to be.
And Pitt’s still making movies, but the internet hasn’t made up its mind about him yet.
Fans have mixed feelings now
When the selfie first came out, people loved it. It was all over Twitter, and everyone thought it was iconic. But now, when you look at those faces, it’s hard not to think about everything that’s happened since.
It just doesn’t have the same feel-good energy anymore.
Does cancel culture even work?
The whole idea of canceling celebrities is messy. Some get completely blacklisted. Others lay low for a while and come back. And then there are people like Pitt, where the accusations didn’t stop them from working.
So, does cancel culture really do anything, or does it just create temporary internet outrage?
The Oscars will never have another moment like this
There will always be big moments at the Oscars, but another selfie like this? Probably not. Social media has changed, cancel culture is a huge thing now, and celebrities are way more careful about who they stand next to.
That 2014 selfie captured a moment in time. But looking back, it might’ve been the beginning of the end for some of the people in it.
