Ke Huy Quan and Robert Downey Jr. at Oscars 2024. Image: Richard Harbaugh/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images via AFP; screengrab from YouTube/ABC News
Robert Downey Jr.’s celebration over his first Oscars win was marred with criticisms after some netizens pointed out how he supposedly “snubbed” Ke Huy Quan, who presented the former’s best supporting actor award.
An excited Quan, who won the same honor last year and returned to this year’s Oscars to be one of the five award presenters, announced Downey as the winner for his “Oppenheimer” performance, during the awarding event on Sunday, March 10 (March 11 in the Philippines).
Downey kissed his wife and waved to the audience before proceeding to the stage to accept the trophy. On the stage, the “Oppenheimer” actor reached Quan to get the award, then went on to shake hands with American actor-director Tim Robbins.
Downey also fist-bumped presenter Sam Rockwell, seemingly not noticing the “Everything Everywhere All at Once” star extending the winner’s envelope to him. After the interaction, Downey faced the audience and delivered his acceptance speech.
Some netizens seemed unimpressed by Downey’s gesture, sharing their sentiment on the matter via X (formerly Twitter).
Robert Downey Jr. could have been a little more responsive to Ke Huy Quan when accepting his first Oscar.
— Rob (@Robert19203) March 11, 2024
whew robert downey jr. doing a taylor swift – celine dion snub on ke huy quan is kinda rude tbh 🤷🏽♂️ #oscars #oscars2024
— Grant 🇵🇭 🍉 (@gkweb3) March 11, 2024
The way he took the Oscar from Ke Huy Quan without acknowledging him at all showed a real lack of class.
— Michael (@Michael95070847) March 11, 2024
And ignored him not just once, but twice.
— Student Doctor Blue (@BiteyBlueMD) March 11, 2024
Nonetheless, there were those who came to Downey’s defense and argued that Downey was just “overwhelmed and caught up in a very big moment.”
Seriously the man was clearly overwhelmed and caught up in a very big moment.
— IndigoBlu (@SparkofBlu2021) March 11, 2024
Robert Downey, Jr. made a mistake. It was not intentional. He waited a long time for that moment. He is a good man.
— jackiesnowangel (@jackiesnow59979) March 11, 2024
He didn't snub Quan at all, taking the Oscar from him the way he did was the acknowledgement, its no surprise that RDJ is a bit of a showman.
— Swaine (@MKSwaine) March 11, 2024
While Downey and Quan did not immediately comment on the incident, the award-winning actors seemed to have quashed ill rumors as they were seen hugging and shaking hands backstage.
Downey and Quan were also all friendly when they took photos with the four other award presenters.
This handout picture courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciencies (AMPAS) shows (from left) Austrian and German actor Christoph Waltz, US actor Robert Downey Jr., US actor Tim Robbins, US actor Sam Rockwell, US actor Mahershala Ali and US-Vietnamese Ke Huy Quan take a photo together backstage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 10, 2024. (Photo by Richard Harbaugh/AMPAS/AFP)
(From left) Robert Downey Jr., winner of the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award for “Oppenheimer,” and Ke Huy Quan pose in the press room during the 96th Annual Academy Awards at Ovation Hollywood on March 10, 2024, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes / Getty Images via AFP)
In this handout photo provided by A.M.P.A.S., Ke Huy Quan and Robert Downey Jr. are seen backstage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 10, 2024, in Hollywood, California. Al Seib/A.M. (Photo by Richard Harbaugh/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images/AFP)
(From left) Mahershala Ali, Christoph Waltz, Tim Robbins, Robert Downey Jr., winner of the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award for “Oppenheimer,” Ke Huy Quan and Sam Rockwell pose in the press room during the 96th Annual Academy Awards at Ovation Hollywood on March 10, 2024, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images via AFP)