The annual ritual of Hollywood insiders applauding one another’s subpar work came under fire this week after images surfaced showing the aftermath inside the theater following Oscars night. And boy does it highlight their hypocrisy.
On Monday, photos circulating on social media showed the interior of the Dolby Theatre littered with garbage after the ceremony. The images revealed piles of discarded items—including water bottles, snack wrappers, food remnants, papers, and event programs—left behind after the event attended by many of Hollywood’s most prominent stars.
Despite the evening being about movies and “acting” it has truly become an environmental advocacy platform for years, with a number of celebrities choosing to speak about climate change and sustainability.
In fact, several high-profile attendees used their appearances during the Sunday Oscars broadcast to cry over environmental causes; all while gaining applause from the audience while they actively trash the place. Speakers including Jane Fonda, Javier Bardem, and Leonardo DiCaprio referenced environmental issues during the event.
The photos led to a discussion about how celebrities regularly speak out about environmental issues and climate change. The New York Post reported on the wave of criticism online:
One commenter reacted to the scene, writing, “Aren’t some of them environmentalists? Where’s all that ‘protect the planet’ energy now?”
Another social media user criticized the contrast between advocacy and behavior, posting, “Save the mountains, keep them clean, blah blah blah … but look at the mess they leave.”
A particularly frustrated commenter wrote, “Just look at the hypocrisy— ‘Save the Planet’ my ass! You people, that’s right- you people are nothing but a bunch of SLOBS! Trash and filth left behind by the over blown media apparatus known as ‘talent.’ What a bunch of pigs!”
Others highlighted the presence of plastic waste in the images. One X user observed that plastic bottles appeared throughout the theater, adding, “It’s One Bottle After Another.”
Another commenter criticized the celebrities’ behavior more broadly, writing, “I guess when your apart of the ultra wealthy elite you lose basic human decency.”
One user argued that the cleanup would fall to workers after the event, posting, “The Elites make the mess and the lower class clears it after them.”
Another social media user expressed disappointment, writing simply, “You’d think they’d have some more class.”