In a moment of Hollywood symmetry that delighted spectators and immediately went viral, Halle Berry surprised Adrien Brody with an unexpected kiss on the Academy Awards red carpet, recreating—and reversing—one of the most memorable and controversial moments in Oscars history.
The impromptu reunion, which occurred at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, was a playful nod to the infamous 2003 ceremony when Brody, upon winning Best Actor for “The Pianist,” grabbed Berry as she presented the award and planted an unplanned kiss on her lips.
The Role Reversal
“I had to pay him back,” Berry told Variety after initiating the kiss, which was witnessed by Brody’s girlfriend, designer Georgina Chapman, who appeared to take the moment in stride with laughter and applause. “That was one hell of a night for him, and for me as well. To be a part of his moment… tonight I had to pay him back.”
The moment was captured by Access Hollywood and quickly circulated across social media platforms, with the Academy itself sharing the clip tagged as “a reunion 22 years in the making,” according to The Guardian.
What made the reunion particularly significant was that it marked the first time the two Oscar winners had encountered each other on a red carpet since that infamous night, despite occasionally seeing each other at industry parties over the years.
Halle Berry kisses Adrien Brody as his wife watches recreating the moment when he kissed her at the Oscars in 2003
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) March 3, 2025
“Sorry Georgina but i gotta do it” pic.twitter.com/ogiE8e7lFp
A Night of Redemption
The kiss proved to be something of a good luck charm for Brody, who went on to win his second Best Actor Oscar later that evening for his performance in “The Brutalist.” This victory came 22 years after his first win made him the youngest male performer ever to receive the Best Actor accolade.
“He’s nominated this year,” Berry told reporters. “He deserved that.”
Reflecting on the Original Moment
The original kiss became one of the most discussed Oscar moments in history, with perspectives on it evolving significantly over time, particularly in the post-#MeToo era when conversations about consent and boundaries in Hollywood gained prominence.
Berry has previously spoken about her surprise during the original incident. In a 2017 appearance on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” she recalled thinking, “What the f— is happening right now?” but explained she went along with it because she understood the overwhelming emotions that accompany winning an Oscar, according to ABC News.
“Because I was there the year before and I know the feeling of being out of your body, I just fucking went with it,” Berry elaborated, referencing her own historic 2002 Oscar win for “Monster’s Ball,” which made her the first Black woman to win the Best Actress award.
Brody’s Perspective
Brody has been more circumspect when discussing the kiss over the years. In a profile published last month in Variety, he acknowledged how cultural attitudes have shifted.
“We live in a very conscious time, which is a wonderful thing,” Brody said. “Nothing that I ever do or have done or would’ve done is ever done with the intention of making anyone feel bad.”
Despite the controversial nature of the original moment, Berry has consistently expressed support for Brody. Earlier this year, she publicly congratulated him on his Golden Globe win for “The Brutalist,” commenting on his Instagram post: “Congratulations my friend. You are truly one of one!”
Halle Berry planted a friendly kiss on best actor nominee Adrien Brody on the #Oscars red carpet.
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) March 2, 2025
The moment was a throwback to the now-infamous kiss that Brody gave Berry when she presented him with his first Academy Award back in 2003. pic.twitter.com/Urz0idedgy
A Different Era
Sunday’s playful reenactment seemed to put to rest any lingering discomfort about the original incident, with both actors appearing to acknowledge how perceptions have changed while celebrating their shared Oscar history.
The moment stands as a reminder of how Hollywood’s cultural norms have evolved over the past two decades, while also highlighting the enduring nature of memorable Oscar moments that become part of the ceremony’s folklore.
For Berry, who was at this year’s ceremony as a presenter, and Brody, who joined the two-time Oscar winners club, the kiss represented a lighthearted full-circle moment in their intertwined Academy Awards journeys.
