Unscripted award show moments that went viral often start at the Academy Awards, where live global TV turns security incidents and wrong envelopes into permanent clip culture. These Oscar beats set the viral bar.

Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Oscars on March 27, 2022, and the clip eclipsed every trophy. Stage security and producer chaos made it the defining unscripted award show moment that went viral.

Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway read the wrong Best Picture card on February 26, 2017. La La Land lost to Moonlight on live TV — one of the biggest unscripted award show moments that went viral.

Ellen DeGeneres corralled nominees for a smartphone selfie at the 86th Oscars on March 2, 2014. Bradley Cooper held the phone and the photo briefly broke retweet records worldwide.

Jennifer Lawrence tripped on the Dolby Theatre stairs accepting Best Actress at the 85th Oscars on February 24, 2013. She laughed it off and the grace-under-embarrassment clip still trends today.