Demi Moore dominated the awards season, collecting trophies at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, and SAG Awards for her gripping performance in The Substance, a film that takes aim at Hollywood’s treatment of women over 50.
She was widely favored to win the Oscar for Best Actress—until Mikey Madison pulled off a stunning upset, writes the New York Post.
Moore’s Shocking Defeat Sparks Debate
When the envelope was opened, it was Madison, 25, who won for her role as a sex worker in Anora—leaving many of Moore’s admirers puzzled and disappointed. While Madison’s performance was highly praised, Moore’s supporters saw a cruel irony: the central theme of The Substance—Hollywood favoring younger actresses over older ones—had played out in real life.
Social media erupted with reactions. On a subreddit dedicated to Moore’s Oscar snub, fans pointed out how the Academy historically rewards young women and older men. One user lamented:
“She poured all that brilliance onto the screen, only for a younger actress—who benefited from sex appeal and social hype—to take the award.”
A viral post by Paolo Uggetti summed up the sentiment:
“Demi Moore losing to Mikey Madison is basically the plot of The Substance.”
The post has been viewed over 5 million times.
Moore’s Momentum Made Her the Favorite
For weeks, Moore appeared to have the Oscar within reach. The Academy’s shifting voter demographics in recent years have moved away from always favoring ingénues, with most recent Best Actress winners being over 40.
Her Golden Globe speech was particularly career-defining. Moore spoke candidly about her struggles in Hollywood, being dismissed as a “popcorn actress”, and receiving the “absolutely bonkers” script for The Substance at what she considered a low point in her career.
“This movie reminds us of those moments when we don’t feel smart enough, pretty enough, or successful enough,” she said. “I had a woman tell me, ‘You will never be enough, but you can know the value of your worth if you just put down the measuring stick.’”
Oscars Experts Were Split on Predictions
Awards analysts were divided on the race. Scott Feinberg (The Hollywood Reporter) and Clayton Davis (Variety) predicted Moore would win, while Kyle Buchanan (The New York Times) saw it as a toss-up, predicting a Fernanda Torres win for I’m Still Here.
One disappointed fan summed up the general mood online:
“Each of Demi’s speeches this season was amazing—I would have loved to hear one more at the Oscars. Her performance was one of a kind, and I’m so happy she and the film got this far. Just wish she could have won.”
Moore’s Graceful Reaction: A Quiet Victory
Despite the disappointment, Moore seemed to take her loss in stride. At the end of the night, her daughter Tallulah Willis shared a photo of her mother, happily enjoying a French fry with her dog Pilaf in her arms.
“My winner,” Willis captioned the post.
While the Oscar went to someone else, Moore’s remarkable comeback remains one of the biggest stories of the year—and perhaps, in the eyes of many, she was still the true winner.
