ELIZABETH Banks has stunned Academy Awards viewers, stumbling as she stepped out on stage to present an award with a raspy voice.
The actress was not nominated for an Oscar this year but did present alongside a shocking special guest: the bear from Cocaine Bear.
Elizabeth Banks nearly fell as she stepped on stage to present at the Oscars
She maintained her composure, pushing through to present alongside a person in a bear suit
Elizabeth, 49, was chosen to present the award for best visual effects alongside a person in a bear suit.
She stumbled as she made her way to the microphone but managed to remain on her feet.
Her voice was hoarse, which she continually apologized for, and she appeared to be not feeling her best.
The Call Jane star seemed less than enthused but did maintain her composure, even after she nearly fell to the ground multiple times.
She listed the nominees before announcing Avatar: The Way of Water as the winner.
Fans flocked to Twitter to weigh in on her on-stage appearance, sympathizing with her.
FANS REACT
“Elizabeth Banks’ cracked voice is me after a night out w my girls,” one fan wrote.
Another Twitter user joked: “Elizabeth Banks nearly had a Jennifer Lawrence moment.”
Jennifer famously tripped while making her way to the stage to accept an award years prior.
Another suggested: “Someone please rescue Elizabeth Banks from whoever made her do this. Painful.”
A fourth fan wrote: “Somebody give Elizabeth Banks a f**king glass of water!”
Someone else joked: “Elizabeth Banks almost pulling a Jennifer Lawrence while the Cocaine Bear hunts her down on the #Oscars stage didn’t work for me!”
Another Twitter user wrote: “Elizabeth Banks almost bit the dust!”
YIKES!
There were plenty of buzz-worthy moments during the Oscars – not just Elizabeth’s near slip and fall.
Host Jimmy Kimmel kicked the show off with a bang.
He delivered a lengthy monologue poking fun a pop culture moments and celebrities who were and weren’t in attendance.
Eventually, he came around to the elephant in the room: Will Smith slapping Chris Rock during the 2023 Oscars.
The late night TV host joked: “We know this is a special night for you. We want you to have fun, we want you to feel safe and, most importantly, we want me to feel safe so we have strict policies in place.
“If anyone in this theater commits an act of violence at any point in this show, you will be awarded the Oscar for best actor and permitted to give a 19-minute long speech.”
He went on: “No but seriously, the Academy has a crisis team in place. If anything unpredictable or violent happens during the ceremony, just do what you did last year: nothing.
“Sit there and do absolutely nothing. Maybe even give the assailant a hug and if any of you get mad at a joke and decide you want to come up here and get jiggy with it, it’s not gonna be easy. There are a few of my friends you’re gonna have to get through first.”
Jimmy then pointed out a few celebrities in the crowd who he claimed would protect him, including Creed star Michael B. Jordan and Everything, Everywhere, All at Once star Michelle Yeoh.
Will, 54, was not in attendance at the show and was barred from presenting after last year’s shocking incident.
He hit host Chris, 58, after he cracked a joke on stage about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia.
Elizabeth’s voice was incredibly hoarse during the show, which worried fans
Elizabeth powered through though she didn’t appear quite herself
The Oscars were full of buzz-worthy moments
