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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesAt the 2003 Academy Awards, Adrien Brody kissed presenter Halle Berry after winning the best actor Oscar for The Pianist. Berry later said the kiss was unexpected: she was surprised, then went along with the moment because she understood how overwhelming an Oscar win could feel. That account is distinct from Brody’s later statement about his intentions—and from the criticism the moment drew as public discussion of consent changed.
What happened at the 2003 Oscars?
At the 75th Academy Awards on March 23, 2003, Brody won the Actor in a Leading Role award for The Pianist, according to the Academy’s official awards record. Berry presented the award. After accepting it, Brody kissed her, then joked, “I bet they didn’t tell you that was in the gift bag,” as ABC News recounts. Berry appeared caught off guard.
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Did Halle Berry know the kiss was coming?
Berry later said she did not know Brody was going to kiss her. Recalling the moment on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in 2017, she described being surprised—“What the f— is happening right now?”—and then going along with it because she understood how overwhelming it can be to win an Oscar. ABC News and TIME’s account of her remarks report that recollection.
Her account describes her reaction in the moment; it does not mean she had agreed to the kiss beforehand.
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What did Adrien Brody say about it later?
In 2025, Brody addressed the incident in an interview with Variety, as reported by ABC News. He said, “We live in a very conscious time, which is a wonderful thing,” and added that “nothing that I ever do or have done or would’ve done is ever done with the intention of making anyone feel bad.” That is Brody’s statement about his intent; it does not replace Berry’s account that the kiss surprised her.
Why did the kiss become controversial?
The kiss was an unplanned physical interaction during a live ceremony, according to Berry’s later recollection. Some later commentary criticized it as inappropriate, particularly as public discussion of consent became more prominent in the #MeToo era. The Guardian’s 2025 report describes that criticism and Berry’s recollection.
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These are separate things: Berry’s description of being surprised, Brody’s stated intention, and other people’s later evaluation of the moment. The cited reporting establishes no legal finding, and the incident should not be presented as one.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened between them at the 2025 Oscars?
At the 2025 Oscars, Berry kissed Brody on the red carpet and joked to Variety that “tonight I had to pay him back.” She explained that she had not seen him on a red carpet since the 2003 ceremony. Variety’s report framed the kiss as a callback to their earlier moment; it does not change what Berry said about the original kiss being unexpected.
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