The 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025, delivered plenty of iconic moments, but one red carpet interaction stole the spotlight. In an unexpected twist, Halle Berry and Adrien Brody recreated their infamous 2003 Oscars kiss, sparking a wave of mixed reactions online.
What started as a playful nod to the past quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the night. Some fans saw it as a lighthearted tribute to their viral moment 22 years ago, while others found it awkward and inappropriate, especially given that Brody’s partner, Georgina Chapman, was present.
During a live interview on the Oscars red carpet, Halle Berry approached Adrien Brody with a mischievous grin.
Before anyone could guess what was coming, Berry turned to Brody’s girlfriend, Georgina Chapman, and jokingly said:
“I’m sorry, Georgina, but I gotta do it.”
Without hesitation, Berry leaned in and shared a brief kiss with Brody, mirroring their now-iconic moment from 2003.
Video:
Adrien Brody Kisses Halle Berry at The 2003 Oscars
The reaction? A mix of cheers, laughter, and stunned expressions from those watching.
Chapman, standing just feet away, clapped and laughed, signaling she had no issue with the exchange. But social media? That was a different story.
To understand why this moment went viral, we need to go back to the 75th Academy Awards in 2003.
That night, Adrien Brody won Best Actor for his performance in The Pianist. Overcome with excitement, he pulled Halle Berry into a spontaneous kiss, leaving her visibly shocked and speechless.
In later interviews, Berry admitted she had no idea it was coming. Speaking to Andy Cohen in 2017, she recalled:
“I was like, ‘What the heck is happening?’ But I just went with it.”
At the time, audiences saw it as a fun and unexpected Oscars moment, but in the years since, opinions have changed. Many now question whether the kiss was appropriate, considering it happened without Berry’s prior consent.
With Hollywood’s growing emphasis on respect and consent, Adrien Brody recently addressed the infamous kiss in an interview leading up to the 2025 Oscars.
“We live in a very different time now, and that’s a good thing. Nothing I’ve done was ever meant to make anyone uncomfortable. It was all in the spirit of celebration.”
Brody’s comments suggest that he understands how cultural attitudes have evolved, but that didn’t stop the new controversy from surfacing when Berry brought the kiss back into the spotlight.
After the Oscars, Halle Berry took to Instagram, posting a photo of the kiss reenactment with the caption:
“Payback.”
The playful post quickly gained traction, drawing thousands of comments and shares. But the internet wasn’t entirely united in celebrating the moment.
Social media erupted with debate over Berry and Brody’s reenactment.
Some fans loved it:
- “This was hilarious! A fun callback to one of the most iconic Oscars moments.”
- “Halle taking control of the moment this time? I love it!”
- “People are overreacting. It’s just a kiss, and Georgina clearly didn’t mind.”
Others weren’t so sure:
- “Did she just kiss another woman’s partner? Not okay.”
- “This was awkward and unnecessary.”
- “Imagine if the roles were reversed—people would be outraged.”
Despite the online controversy, Georgina Chapman, Adrien Brody’s partner, didn’t seem bothered at all. She was seen smiling, clapping, and laughing as the moment unfolded.
Video:
Halle Berry KISSES Adrien Brody At 2025 Oscars 22 Years Later
Since her relationship with Brody became public in 2020, the couple has maintained a relatively private life. Chapman, a fashion designer and ex-wife of Harvey Weinstein, has been under public scrutiny before, but she seemed completely unfazed by the Oscars kiss.
If Chapman didn’t see it as an issue, should anyone else? That question divided fans even further.
While the Berry-Brody kiss dominated online conversations, the 97th Academy Awards had plenty of other memorable highlights.
From show-stopping fashion to emotional acceptance speeches, the event celebrated cinema’s biggest achievements.
Berry, dressed in a sleek, form-fitting gown, and Brody, looking sharp in a classic tuxedo, proved that even decades after their first viral moment, they can still command attention.
The recreated Oscars kiss between Halle Berry and Adrien Brody has once again sparked discussions about personal boundaries, respect, and nostalgia.
For some, it was a playful moment between two actors reliving an unforgettable piece of Hollywood history. For others, it raised questions about appropriateness in today’s cultural climate.
One thing is certain—Halle Berry and Adrien Brody know how to create an Oscars moment that people will remember.
And just like in 2003, the debate isn’t ending anytime soon.
