March 12, 2024 – Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, aslo know as “Liang Zi Chong” has addressed the controversy surrounding Emma Stone’s alleged snub at the 96th Academy Awards.
On March 12, Yeoh took to Instagram to share a photo of herself hugging Stone with the caption, “Congratulations Emma.“
She continued, “I confused you , but I wanted to share that glorious moment of handing over Oscar to you together with your best friend Jennifer!! She reminded me of my Bae Jamie Lee Curtis ♥️✨ always there for each other!! 😘😘😘“
The controversy erupted during the Oscars ceremony on March 10 when Stone, who won Best Supporting Actress for her role in “The Favourite,” was seen handing the trophy to Yeoh without any further interaction. Some viewers interpreted this as a sign of disrespect, with many accusing Stone of racism.
Stone received the trophy from Liang, but only briefly shook her hand before turning to Jennifer Lawrence, who was standing next to her, to share her joy. She only extended her hand to Liang at the very end for a quick handshake.
Yeoh’s Instagram post clarifies the situation, implying a simple misunderstanding and a friendly relationship between the actresses.
In a similar incident, Robert Downey Jr. was also accused of snubbing Asian actor Ke Huy Quan at the Oscars. After winning Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Oppenheimer,” Downey Jr. was seen receiving the trophy from Quan without making eye contact or shaking his hand. He then proceeded to greet his white co-stars with fist bumps.
The two actors later embraced and took a photo together backstage, seemingly putting the controversy to rest.
Both incidents have sparked a discussion about race and representation in Hollywood.
