The British Academy Film and Television Awards—most commonly knows as the BAFTAs—kicked off Sunday to mixed reviews. Not because of the ceremony itself but because of the opening number.
It's Rob Lowe and Snow White 2.0.
While Oscar nominees filled the room and Hollywood icons accepted their awards, the most buzzed-about moment seemed to be the introduction to the night's events a name dropping rap performed by West Side Story's Ariana DeBose.
The Academy Award winner took to the stage and began by singing a medley inspired by female nominees, including a rendition the Eurythmic's "Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves" and Sister Sledge's "We Are Family."
But then things took a turn when DeBose—a BAFTA winner the previous year—transitioned to rapping.
DeBose rhymed:
"All the ladies in the room, supporting and leading all here I presume."
She then mentioned nominees as the camera caught their faces on the beat:
"Hong Chau; Dolly D; Kerry; and Carey with a C; Dame Emma, I'm so fond; Ana girl, you were great in Blonde."
"Danielle D, you broke my heart. Michelle, I've loved you from the start.
DeBose finished:
"Angela Bassett did the thing. Viola Davis, my 'Woman King.'"
You can watch the moment below.
\u201cSisters are doing it for themselves! The incredible @ArianaDeBose opens the 2023 #EEBAFTAs with an iconic performance! \u2728\u201d— BAFTA (@BAFTA) 1676833996
Viewers are obsessed but for all different kinds of reasons.
Some can't get the catchier phrases out of their heads.
\u201c@BAFTA @ArianaDeBose Is this on Spotify? At least the Angela Basset did the thing part?\u201d— BAFTA (@BAFTA) 1676833996
\u201cIt\u2019s gonna be 3 in the morning and I\u2019m gonna be staring at the ceiling and the thing that\u2019s gonna be keeping me awake is the phrasing of \u201cAngela Bassett did the thing\u201d on loop in my brain.\u201d— David Gordon (@David Gordon) 1676908319
\u201cthe way both Bafta hosts, all the winner's speeches and all the films just got overshadowed by "Angela Bassett did the thing"\u201d— Louis Staples (@Louis Staples) 1676907481
\u201c\u201cangela bassett did the thing\u201d\u201d— crazy broke asian (@crazy broke asian) 1676860416
\u201c\u201cangela bassett did the thing, viola davis my woman king\u201d\u201d— JB parody account (@JB parody account) 1676908170
\u201cme when angela bassett did the thing\u201d— hugeasmammoth.films (@hugeasmammoth.films) 1676885623
\u201cangela bassett did the thing\u201d— elijah (@elijah) 1676961126
@scottjok/Twitter
\u201c@eIijahhhhh\u201d— elijah (@elijah) 1676961126
Many admitted they felt both uncomfortable and confused watching the performance.
\u201cThis is so cringe Omg \u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1676850957
\u201c@BAFTA @ArianaDeBose I\u2019m confused but entertained\u201d— BAFTA (@BAFTA) 1676833996
\u201cno way this is real \u201d— persian roman roy (@persian roman roy) 1676838543
\u201c@BAFTA @ArianaDeBose\u201d— BAFTA (@BAFTA) 1676833996
\u201cThe reaction shots in the Ariana Debose BAFTA performance are sending me\u201d— Nicol (@Nicol) 1676852256
\u201cariana debose you\u2019re an oscar winner you don\u2019t have to do this i promise \ud83d\ude2d\u201d— \ud835\udc82\ud835\udc93\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc8e (@\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc93\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc8e) 1676848962
\u201cWhy would they let Ariana, Oscar winner, DeBose embarrass herself like this\u201d— salt and vinegar (@salt and vinegar) 1676860802
Regardless of their feelings about the rap, many just cannot take their eyes off the video.
\u201cnearly 24 hours later and I fear I'm going to be quoting Ariana DeBose's dreadful BAFTA's rap until my deathbed\u201d— Alistair Ryder (@Alistair Ryder) 1676901809
\u201c@BAFTA @ArianaDeBose This gets better with every view\u201d— BAFTA (@BAFTA) 1676833996
\u201chow many times have i watched the ariana debose video\u201d— hunter harris (@hunter harris) 1676911677
Per Variety, BAFTA's award producer Nick Bullen defended the choice.
"We wanted to open the show with some energy, some fun and also lay out straight away that this was hopefully going to feel like a different night, but with a familiarity as well, and what Ariana did was exactly that."
"I think a lot of people don't like change, and there's a view that BAFTAs have to be this slightly stiff, traditional British, middle-England messaging."
"But American awards shows have much more razzmatazz, much more showbiz, and perhaps a broader range of people being involved."
"We felt we're not about revolution, we're about evolution."
In that case, we'd say they nailed it.