Last night Hollywood's biggest stars dressed up in glamorous gowns and dapper tuxedos to attend the 91st Academy Awards. The ceremony began with a riveting performance from the legendary rock band Queen, whose lead singer, the late Freddie Mercury, was featured in the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. (Adam Lambert replaced Mercury for the performance.)
Then a trio of hilarious ladies from Saturday Night Live took the stage: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph. "We are not your hosts, but we’re going to stand here a little too long so that the people who get USA Today tomorrow will think we hosted," joked Fey. After riffing about the cheesy monologue jokes they would have done as hosts, they presented the first award of the night, for Best Supporting Actress.
This year the nominees included Regina King from If Beale Street Could Talk, Amy Adams from Vice, Marina de Tavira from Roma, Emma Stone from The Favourite and Rachel Weisz from The favorite. Regina King, who's worked in television and movies for three decades, won the prize, her first Academy Award nomination and win.
When King rose to accept the award, she appeared to struggle with walking up to the stage in her long dress. Fortunately, Chris Evans, who plays Captain America in the Marvel superhero movies, was there to lend a helping hand. He gracefully guided her up the steps, providing one of the first memorable moments of the night. (And rescuing King from an embarrassing gaffe, like when Jennifer Lawrence tripped on her dress after winning the Oscar for Best Actress in 2013.)
This isn't the first time Evans proved chivalry isn't dead. In 2015, he helped 93-year-old comedy icon Betty White to the stage at the People's Choice Awards. After getting caught on camera acting like a perfect gentleman again, the actor became a trending topic on Twitter. Viewers praised Evans for his benevolence, declaring, "Now that's what I call a man!"
Of course, this being Twitter, some people grumbled about how "low the bar is for straight white men," that such a minor action attracts so much praise.
A couple people even thought that Evan's gesture detracted from King's win. (I guess they'd rather he didn't lend her a hand, and she tripped and fell like J-Law?)
One woman remarked that her inner feminist would protest accepting Evans' help, but she would probably not refuse it. Just look at those baby-blue eyes and try to say no!
In any event, King clearly appreciated the gesture. Photos from the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty show the two actors in cozy conversation, and sharing an adorable hug.
And the Academy Award for Best Gentleman At The Oscars goes to...Chris Evans. Congratulations!
