“One Battle After Another” star Teyana Taylor had an argument at the Oscars with a man she claims shoved her. In a viral video, the best supporting actress nominee is seen scolding a man in a crowd of people.
“You’re a man putting your hands on a female,” she says in the video, then repeatedly tells the man that he’s “very rude.” She told someone next to her that “he literally shoved me” and “he damn near shoved” another woman.
“Everybody’s having a good time. But when you shove me, it’s a different story,” Taylor explains to a woman next to her. “Do not touch me, do not shove me.”
Variety spoke to a source who witnessed the altercation. The incident happened after “One Battle After Another” had won the Oscar for best picture and involved Warner Bros. film bosses Pam Abdy and Mike DeLuca. Rather than go upstairs for a group photo, the cast and crew photo was going to be done on the Oscars stage.
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The source said, “Pam Abdy and Mike DeLuca were having trouble getting up onto the stage, so Teyana came down to get Pam, and when she went to go back up, there was a security guard who forcibly stopped them from going back to the stage and put his hands on Teyana.” The source explained that “the guy had watched her walk down and when they went to go back up, he forcibly was trying to stop them.” It was then that Taylor got angry. The source added that the guard said said, “‘You owe me an apology,’ and that’s when she got even more upset.”
In a statement obtained by Variety, Security Industry Specialists, Inc said, “There was a brief interaction involving Ms. Taylor and a member of our security team during the show last evening. Our security personnel were working to manage a crowded area and ensure the safety of all guests. During that interaction, there was incidental contact and we regret that the situation escalated. This is not the standard of professionalism we expect from our team, and we have addressed the matter internally to help ensure situations like this do not happen again.”
TMZ spoke with Taylor later in the night, and she explained that the man was a security guard but the situation is “all good.”
“Security was just doing a lot,” she said. “There’s always that one, but I’m perfectly fine. I’m happy. There’s nothing to wonder. The first thing people do is definitely make assumptions. But at the end of the day I just don’t tolerate disrespect, especially when it’s unwarranted and unprovoked.”
“We were extremely upset to learn about the experience endured by Teyana Taylor at the end of the Oscars ceremony last night,” the Academy said in a statement. “We have worked with Teyana over the last several months during awards season, and she has been nothing short of remarkable, supportive, kind, and all about community. Though the incident was with our outside security firm SIS, the experience of every single guest is our responsibility. We have made it clear to them that this behavior is not acceptable. We want to thank Teyana for showing remarkable grace, and we are taking the appropriate measures to ensure this does not happen again.”
Taylor lost the best supporting actress category to “Weapons” star Amy Madigan, but “One Battle After Another” was the big winner at the Oscars, taking home a leading six awards. The Paul Thomas Anderson film won best picture, director, casting, adapted screenplay, editing and supporting actor for Sean Penn. In addition to her Oscar nomination, Taylor also picked up supporting actress nods at the Actor Awards, BAFTAs, Critics Choice and won at the Golden Globes.
From Variety US