Fans Divided Over ‘Black Panther’ Star Angela Bassett Not Clapping For Jamie Lee Curtis After Oscar Loss

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” actress Angela Bassett is getting slammed for not applauding after Jamie Lee Curtis won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress instead of her.

The camera was trained on all the nominees as Curtis jumped up to accept the golden statue. Instead of standing and clapping like the other women who lost, Bassett remained silent and seated with a grim look on her face. 

Reactions were mixed, with some social media users calling her a sore loser and others defending the 64-year-old star, who they say was robbed of the award.

“Regardless of who won that Oscar … Angela Bassett could have clapped for the winner. To just sit there and not clap because you didn’t win …[not classy],” one Twitter user wrote.

“Angela Bassett not standing up for Jamie Lee Curtis is kinda shady. I get you’re upset for not winning but damn …” another account observed.

Not everyone came down hard on her reaction, however. Some said it was natural for the “Black Panther” star to feel emotional and let it show when she didn’t win.

“Angela Bassett is allowed to be visibly disappointed that she didn’t win the Oscar,” another account chimed in.

“Angela Bassett’s reaction to Jamie Lee Curtis’ name being called … you can tell how much that Oscar would have meant to her. she is, was, and always will be incredible. I better see her on that stage SOON,” another Twitter user wrote.

Angela Bassett’s reaction to Jamie Lee Curtis’ name being called…you can tell how much that Oscar would have meant to her. she is, was, and always will be incredible. I better see her on that stage SOON pic.twitter.com/oHDfuDUksG

— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) March 13, 2023

Curtis took home the Oscar for her role in “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” which won the most awards of the night with seven total, including best picture. The actress dedicated her big win to “hundreds of people” who supported her and helped make the film such a success.

“I just won!” Curtis cheered.

This was Bassett’s second time being nominated for an Academy Award. She was also recognized for her work in the Tina Turner biopic, “What’s Love Got to Do With It” (1993). The actress won a Golden Globe this year for her supporting role in “Wakanda Forever.”

Bassett previously said she wasn’t upset about not winning the Oscar in 1993.

“Of course, in the moment you’re hoping and praying and wishing,” Bassett told Entertainment Weekly of losing that time around. “But I never walk away thinking, ‘I’ve been robbed.’”

“That’s too negative of an emotion to carry with me for the rest of my life,” the actress continued. “I choose to believe there was a reason why it didn’t happen.”