According to body language expert Darren Stanton, Demi Moore, 62, was upset after losing the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
One of the main prizes of the 97th Academy Awards, which took place in Los Angeles on Sunday night, went to 25-year-old Mikey Madison, who won the Oscar for Best Actress.
Madison, the star of Sean Baker’s Anora, defeated strong competitors including Demi Moore, who had been a clear favorite following a great awards season.
In addition to her recent honors, which included winning Best Actress at the 2025 BAFTAs, Madison’s accomplishment represented her first Oscar nomination. She defeated a great field that included Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres, Cynthia Erivo from Wicked, and Karla Sofía Gascón.
Moore was predicted by many to win the Oscar, though, given she won a Golden Globe, a Critics Choice Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award this season for her performance as Elisabeth Sparkle in The Substance.
Stanton claims that Moore was shocked and disappointed to not win the prized honor. “Demi was devastated not to win this Oscar,” Stanton said in a Betfair Casino study. “When Mikey was named the Best Actress winner, her facial expressions gave the impression that she was attempting to hide her emotions.”
Moore, who had been enjoying a surge of fame during the awards season, appeared particularly surprised by the outcome, the expert observed. Stanton went on, “We saw her eyes wide in shock, her mouth drop open — she was obviously shocked and having a hard time processing what was happening.”
“The emotional disappointment she felt was reflected in her forced smiles, which didn’t seem genuine.”
Fans of both actresses have voiced their feelings in heated discussions on social media as a result of the outrage.
“Demi Moore losing to Mikey Madison is basically the plot of The Substance,” jokingly said one commenter. “Demi Moore was completely ignored, and you’ll never make me change my mind,” said another commenter. The Oscars just demonstrated without exception that they don’t take horror or older women seriously.
With the statement, “On the bright side, Demi Moore had a stellar awards season and has earned the admiration of a new, younger audience,” some Moore supporters have opted to highlight the positives.
Moore’s career is still going strong. Moore’s next project will be I Love Boosters, a science fiction comedy directed by Boots Riley, following her highly praised performance in The Substance, which can be seen with a MUBI subscription. Will Poulter, LaKeith Stanfield, and Keke Palmer will co-star with her.
Madison’s Anora, which has already won multiple awards, will be accessible for streaming on Hulu in the United States beginning March 17.
How do you feel about this? Did Demi Moore lose out on a well-earned honor? Tell us what you think!
