And the moment goes to…
The 97th Academy Awards lit up Hollywood on Sunday night (March 2), celebrating the year’s biggest cinematic triumphs—from blockbuster powerhouses like Wicked, Sing Sing, and Dune: Part Two to critically acclaimed gems like Nickel Boys, Anora, and The Substance.
As always, the night was a glittering spectacle, with A-listers flooding the Dolby Theatre for an evening of unforgettable wins, jaw-dropping performances, and history-making milestones. From groundbreaking firsts to moments that had social media buzzing, Black excellence was front and center.
Below, we’re breaking down the best Black moments from the Oscars everyone will be talking about on Monday.
Halle Berry Kisses Adrien Brody
One of the most WTF yet hilarious moments of the 2025 Oscars was when Halle Berry playfully recreated her wild 2003 kiss with Adrien Brody on the red carpet. Hopefully, she and Brody’s partner, Georgina Chapman, are cool, though.
Cynthia Erivo And Ariana Grande Bring Wicked To The Oscars
The A-list affair opened with a beautiful montage paying tribute to Hollywood, after which Oscars Best Supporting Actress nominee Ariana Grande gave a goosebump-worthy performance of Over the Rainbow.
As she exited the stage, Best Actress nominee Cynthia Erivo took over with a soulful performance of Home before the two delivered an electrifying performance of Defying Gravity, bringing the crowd to its feet. It was the perfect way to kick off the night.
Paul Tazewell Becomes The First Black Man To Win In The Oscars Costume Design Category
The phenomenal costume designer, previously nominated for West Side Story, made history as the first Black man and second Black person after Ruth E. Carter to win an Oscar for costume design, and he got a very well-deserved standing ovation.
“This is everything,” Tazewell said
Related: Paul Tazewell Makes History As The First Black Man To Win An Oscar For Best Costume Design
Doja Cat, Blackpink’s Lisa, And British Singer-Songwriter Raye Turn Bond Tribute To A Pop Concert
Blackpink’s Lisa, Doja Cat, and Raye may have a track together called Born Again, but that’s not what they brought to the 2025 Oscars stage Sunday night. Instead, the powerhouse trio delivered a show-stopping tribute to the music of the James Bond franchise.
Lisa kicked things off with an electrifying take on Wings’ Live and Let Die from 1973, Doja Cat brought her signature flair to Shirley Bassey’s iconic Diamonds Are Forever from 1971, and Raye closed it out with a jaw-dropping, powerhouse performance of Adele’s Skyfall from 2012, easily stealing the show as the standout of the night.
Zoe Saldana Makes History As The First Dominican American Actress to Win An Oscar
Zoe Saldana was overcome with emotion as she accepted the award for Best Supporting Actress.
“I am floored by this honor,” she said in her heartfelt speech.
“My grandmother came to this country in 1961. I am a proud child of immigrant parents with dreams, dignity, and hardworking hands. I’m the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award, and I know I won’t be the last—I hope.”
Saldana also reflected on the significance of her role, which allowed her to sing and speak in Spanish, sharing,
“The fact that I’m getting an award for a role where I got to sing and speak in Spanish—my grandmother, if she were here, would be so delighted.”
Queen Latifah, Oprah Winfrey, And Whoopi Goldberg Honor Quincy Jones
Later in the night, legendary record producer and composer Quincy Jones was honored for his extraordinary contributions to the film industry.
He was celebrated by two of his closest collaborators, Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg, who treated the audience to a powerful The Color Purple reunion.
“When we talk about Black excellence, we’re talking about Quincy,” Goldberg said during the tribute, who played Celie in the 1985 film, which Jones produced.
“Quincy was love, lived out loud in human form,” Winfrey added. “And he poured that love into others and into his work. My life changed forever and for the better after meeting him. He actually discovered me for The Color Purple, which was my first film.”
Following their touching tribute, Winfrey and Goldberg introduced Queen Latifah, who delivered a rousing performance of Ease On Down the Road from The Wiz, another Jones-produced masterpiece—as Colman Domingo, Cynthia Erivo, and Ariana Grande danced in the front row.
