Featured Image Credit: ABC
Topics: Academy Awards, Oscars, Harry Styles
Stefania Sarrubba
Months after the so-called spit-gate rocked Venice International Film Festival, Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel asked none other than Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai about it.
The Pakistani activist attended the awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre tonight (March 12), but it's safe to say she didn't expect to be quizzed about such a specific, and frankly a little old, pop culture moment.
Let's look back on it for those who need a refresher. During the premiere of Olivia Wilde's sophomore feature Don't Worry Darling, leading men Harry Styles and Chris Pine were seemingly involved in an awkward incident. While going to take his seat next to Pine, Styles leans forward and seems to spit on his co-star, who looked shocked.
Advert
Fret not, as Pine's reps clarified there was no saliva involved and fans' imagination just ran a little too wild.
"This is a ridiculous story – a complete fabrication and the result of an odd online illusion that is clearly deceiving and allows for foolish speculation," a statement released at the time read.
"Just to be clear, Harry Styles did not spit on Chris Pine. There is nothing but respect between these two men and any suggestion otherwise is a blatant attempt to create drama that simply does not exist."
Back to the Oscars, it seems that Malala, too, believes nothing but mutual admiration exist between Pine and Styles.
"As the youngest Nobel Prize winner in history, I was wondering, do you think Harry Styles spit on Chris Pine?" Kimmel asked her about her stance on the infamous spit incident.
She simply replied: "I only talk about peace." Which, of course, could also be a subtle hint at no bad blood running between Pine and Styles, right?
Malala obviously didn't take Kimmel's bait, as the host looked a little disappointed he wasn't given more material to work with. He swiftly moved on to another guest, but not before asking the troublesome Cocaine Bear (or rather, the actor in the furry costume inspired by Elizabeth Banks' deliciously silly film) to leave Malala alone.
Kimmel and Malala's exchange wasn't the only moment of this year's Academy Awards who left viewers cringing.
During the event's champagne carpet, Hugh Grant was slammed for his 'rude' interview with model Ashley Graham, who tried her best to get some answers from the actor. The Notting Hill star, more recently seen in a cameo in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay), seemed a little curt when answering Graham's queries, and fans didn't let this one slide.