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Twitter Floored By What Was In Oscar Nominees' Gift Bags—Including A 'Small Plot Of Land In Scotland'
There are numerous perks to being nominated for an Academy Award.
In addition to taking home the golden Oscar statuette and earning the title of "Academy Award nominee"—or better yet "Academy Award winner"—nominees also get to take home luxurious gift bags.
For the last 20 years, the gift bags for the Oscars, known as the "Everybody Wins" gift bags, have been the work of Los Angeles based marketing company Distinctive Assets.
This year, there were 28 lucky recipients of these lavish gift bags which included all the nominees for Best Leading Actor and Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, the five nominees for Best Director, and the ceremony's three hosts, Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes.
This year's bags contained 53 items, which were collectively valued at roughly $137,000.
Among the items in the bag were a $12,000 liposuction procedure, $25,000 worth of home renovations, an assortment of high end popcorn and an assortment of tea from The Chai Box.
Scotland also featured prominently among the gifts.
The most expensive item was a $50,000 three-night stay at Turn Castle in the Scottish countryside, complete with a bagpiper welcome and full butler service.
But the item which has received the most attention was "The title of 'Lord' or 'Lady' of Glencoe, along with a small plot of land in Scotland."
As the list of gift bag items circulated on Twitter, people expressed their feelings on these lavish gifts.
Several found the gift bags to be garish, emphasizing how most Americans don't even come close to making the combined value of the items in a year of full-time work.
Losing my mind over the items in the Oscar nominees\u2019 gift bag this year. We truly are peasants to these people.pic.twitter.com/TFSq3wwbsm— filmaroni (@filmaroni) 1648690393
That's cool, but why am I still paying Oscar gift bag prices at the Chevron on Riversidehttps://twitter.com/carlquintanilla/status/1509861827362144260\u00a0\u2026— David Weigel (@David Weigel) 1648826814
parasite won best picture 2 years agohttps://twitter.com/filmaroni/status/1509343022340837377\u00a0\u2026— bethany (@bethany) 1648694706
It's just the Oscars... not remotely relatable for most of the world, where the gift bag is 1-4 times our yearly salary...— Borg_Drone (@Borg_Drone) 1648811203
The oscars cost $43 Million to produce this year. Average gown costs $1.5 million (each). After parties $20k - $80k (p/ couple). Gift bag swag $140k (each) . \n\nThe wealth and waste of these people could make such a difference in the world, but they just want YOU to change.— \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 From the Desk of Kat \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 From the Desk of Kat \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1648477379
imagining a person in a studio apartment reading the week's events and going "wow this person is just like me" like no people just like you drive people like them. You're getting invested in the humanity of people that would get you fired for being late with their dog's uber eats— Ryan (@Ryan) 1648701469
Joining in on condemning the excess of the gift bags was comedian Ricky Gervais.
After one Twitter user expressed how they wished he was hosting the Oscars, Gervais responded by saying he would immediately point out how the extravagant gift bags were an insult to all viewers who were struggling financially.
He tweeted:
"I'd start with 'hello', I hope this show helps cheer up the ordinary people watching at home."
"If you're unemployed, for example, take some comfort in the fact that even if you had a job, your salary probably wouldn't be as much as the good bag all the actors have just been given."
I'd start with "Hello. I hope this show helps cheer up the ordinary people watching at home. If you\u2019re unemployed for example, take some comfort in the fact that even if you had a job, your salary probably wouldn't be as much as the goody bag all the actors have just been given."— Ricky Gervais (@Ricky Gervais) 1648401996
Failing to find humor in Gervais' tweet was Distinctive Assets founder Lash Fary.
Fary called out Gervais' "hypocrisy" in a statement to Metro, even throwing Gervais' own words back in his face.
“While we do not spend money buying any of the items in our gift bags (much like advertising, this is simply a promotional campaign for brands), the valuation is indeed significant…but not nearly as substantial as Ricky’s recent Netflix deal, the residuals he receives for The Office or his multi-million-dollar home.”
"So if you’re unemployed, take some comfort in the fact that even if you had a job, your salary probably wouldn’t be as much as Ricky Gervais makes for a single episode of After Life."
Many Twitter users were in disbelief a plot of Scottish land as well as a title could be given away in a gift bag.
A PLOT OF SCOTTISH LAND?!https://twitter.com/filmaroni/status/1509343022340837377\u00a0\u2026— Liam Something (@Liam Something) 1648736639
"a title of "Lord" or "Lady" and a small plot of Land in Scotland"..\nso oscar nominees are now getting ownership over pieces of land in their gift bags. i don't even know whether to laugh or cryhttps://twitter.com/filmaroni/status/1509343022340837377\u00a0\u2026— laine\u2077 (@laine\u2077) 1648733771
The Oscar\u2019s gift bag worth nearly \u20ac200k, included a plot of land in Scotland. Like..? The recipient can now refer to themselves as a lord or a lady apparently.pic.twitter.com/SQJiFYScDV— A s h l e i g h (@A s h l e i g h) 1648565832
If being given a title and a plot of land in a gift bag seemed too good to be true, that's probably because it is.
The plots of land are "souvenir plots" where for a price you will be given an honorary title and one to one hundred square feet of land to be advertised as owned by you.
Highland Titles, the company behind these souvenir plots has denied multiple accusations which have called the operation a scam.
But Andy Whitman, a former member of Scottish Parliament, made it abundantly clear in a letter addressed to the gift bag recipients that Highland Titles has no legal claim to offer them either the title or the land they appear to have received.
"First and foremost, you are not the owner of any land in Scotland despite what this company might have led you to believe."
"You have also not been given any right to style yourself Lord or Lady of Glencoe."
"Highland Titles has no authority or power to bestow such a title on you."
"You have a piece of paper (several probably) with impressive sounding claims and illustrations."
"They remain just pieces of paper, however and provide you with nothing more than that."
When the truth behind the "plot of land" became clear, Twitter users expressed their amusement.
My favorite part of this is everyone freaking out about the \u201cbecome a Scottish Lord and acquire a small plot of land in Scotland\u201d bit like they\u2019re getting gifted a highland castle. It\u2019s a $45 \u201cown a star\u201d campaign https://twitter.com/filmaroni/status/1509343022340837377\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/Kzlee0QrwZ— \u201cUltimate Jared Leto Fan\u201d brett thousand (@\u201cUltimate Jared Leto Fan\u201d brett thousand) 1648736781
Isnt this the company selling off bits of Scotland in gift bags for Oscars? Taken from paid advert on Facebookpic.twitter.com/Q4S5Rr25hX— Celtic witch 1995 tweets from an occupied Scotland (@Celtic witch 1995 tweets from an occupied Scotland) 1648474518
There were others, however, who were not amused by the gift bags inclusion of the plot of land, even finding it insulting.
Lesley Riddoch, a columnist for The National,started a petition to remove the title and plot of land from the gift bags, pointing out how the people of Scotland have famously had trouble purchasing their own land.
“Scotland is one of the last places in Europe where land can be bought and sold on a whim with no questions asked."
“As a result a tiny number of people own the land – fewer today than in 1872."
"This storm in a Goodie Bag reminds Scots why land reform is urgent and necessary – to turn the ownership of our beautiful country into the shared responsibility of Scots, not a trinket to be traded by strangers."
Riddoch's petition has received over 7,400 signatures, as well as ample promotion on Twitter.
Academy Awards 2022: Thousands back call to 'take Scotland out of Oscars gift bag'. Disgraceful, anyone up for signing the petition? Scotland is ours, it's bad enough our land has been taken from us from the clearances to the modern day tory and English church buy up.pic.twitter.com/mod5JRTo9O— Celtic witch 1995 tweets from an occupied Scotland (@Celtic witch 1995 tweets from an occupied Scotland) 1648373020
Your own plot of Scottish land & a title as part of this year\u2019s Oscar\u2019s goodie bag? \n\nA petition to \u201ctake Scotland out\u201d of the reported gift pack contents says: \u201cIt\u2019s a wounding insult for all Scots to see parts of our land traded like trinkets.\u201dhttps://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20023512.academy-awards-2022-thousands-back-call-take-scotland-oscars-gift-bag/\u00a0\u2026— Rosie Birchard (@Rosie Birchard) 1648376681
I've just signed this petition. Will you add your name and share too?\nScottish land & titles being handed out like beebaws. Help Lesley Riddoch, share & sign!\n\nhttps://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/take-scotland-out-of-the-oscars-goodie-bag?source=twitter_share_button&utm_medium=socialshare&utm_source=twitter&share=7f3eac52-aabe-4725-8f46-67e9146ad667\u00a0\u2026 via @38_degrees— NickyC\ud83d\udc99 #fbpe\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 3.5% FBSNHS (@NickyC\ud83d\udc99 #fbpe\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 3.5% FBSNHS) 1648243306
Oscar nominees might want to think very carefully before asking to be addressed as the "Lord of Glencoe."