Robert Downey Jr. has been slammed by viewers for allegedly 'snubbing' Ke Huy Quan after winning an Academy Award.
On Sunday (March 10) night, the 58-year-old actor was awarded his first-ever Academy Award for his role as Rear Admiral Lewis Strauss in the 2023 blockbuster Oppenheimer.
Downey Jr. emerged victorious in the Best Supporting Actor category, triumphing over formidable contenders such as Robert De Niro for Killers of the Flower Moon, Mark Ruffalo in Poor Things, Sterling K. Brown in American Fiction, and Ryan Gosling for Barbie.
Not only did the Marvel star take home the golden statue but he also took a heap of criticism for how he accepted it.
The award for Best Supporting Actor was presented by five former winners, including last year's winner Ke Huy Quan, who won for Everything Everywhere All at Once. The 52-year-old excitedly announced Downey as this year’s winner and held the Oscar statuette and envelope as the Iron Man star made his way to the stage.
But when the winner reached the stage, he didn’t even make eye contact with Quan and instead took the award from his hand without acknowledging him.
However, he shook co-presenter Tim Robbins' hand and even fist-bumped with Sam Rockwell before turning to face the star-studded audience, overlooking the Indiana Jones actor as he tried to hand him the envelope.
Watch Downey Jr's "snubbing" Quan below:
Many fans took to social media to point out the "snub," with one disappointed user saying: "Robert Downey Jr. could’ve took one second or even acknowledge Ke Huy Quan while on stage, who presenting an award to him personally… this s*** was so disrespectful idc."
Another equally shocked viewer commented: "Robert Downey Jr. not even making eye contact with the dude (Ke Huy Quan) who praised his role in Oppenheimer while accepting his award shows how big of a douchebag he is."
A third expressed third disapproval: "The way Robert Downey jr took that Oscar from Ke Huy Quan," and, a fourth added: "Not loving how we tuned in to see Ke Huy Quan get disrespected by Robert Downey Jr. and then that odd speech."
"Not Robert Downey Jr. leaving Ke Huy Quan hanging !!! Someone call the people who drilled Taylor for leaving Celine Dion hanging !!!" someone else said, referencing the viral Grammys moment where Swift "ignored" Dion after winning Album of the Year.
However, some people said there was no bad blood between the pair as they embraced backstage following Downey Jr.'s win.
Downey Jr. was the favorite to win the award, having already won a string of major best supporting actor prizes, including the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild.
During his speech, he thanked his "terrible childhood and the Academy, in that order" as well as his "veterinarian…sorry…wife, Susan Downey. She found me a snarling refuge pet and loved me back to life. That’s why I’m here".
"Here's my little secret: I needed this job more than it needed me," he continued. "Chris knew it, Emma made sure she surrounded me with one of the greatest cast and crews of all time; Emily, Cillian, Matt Damon. It was fantastic and I stand here before you a better man because of it. What we do is meaningful, and the stuff we decide to make is important.
"Back to my publicist, my agent Phillip Raskin who is here and Andrew Dunlap, my den mother, Joy Feeley, and I want to thank my stylist in case no one else does, thanks Erica, and I’m just going to say this," he said, adding, "My entertainment lawyer, Tom Hanson, of 40 years, the half of which he spent trying to get me insured and bailing me out of [trouble], thanks bro!"
The actor wrapped up the speech by shouting out his children Avri, Exton, and Indio, saying: "This one’s for you!"
