The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has responded to the viral Oscars 2026 incident involving Teyana Taylor, saying it is “extremely upset” after the actress alleged she was shoved by a security guard inside the Dolby Theatre.
The moment unfolded in the final minutes of the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, where Teyana was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in One Battle After Another. Following the show, video began circulating on the social media platform X showing the actress visibly upset as she confronted a man she accused of putting his hands on her.
According to the footage, Teyana had been attempting to move through a crowded backstage area after joining her co-stars on stage when the film won Best Picture. In the video, she can be heard addressing the man, saying, “You’re a man putting his hands on a female… You’re very rude,” as she reacted to the encounter.
The Academy addressed the situation in a statement obtained by Entertainment Weekly on Monday, confirming it was aware of the incident and expressing concern over the interaction. The organization said it had worked closely with Teyana throughout awards season and described her as “remarkable, supportive, kind, and all about community.”
In its statement, the Academy acknowledged that the guard involved was part of an external security firm, Security Industry Specialists, but emphasized that the experience of every guest remains its responsibility. The organization said it had made it clear to the firm that the behavior described was not acceptable and added that it is taking steps to ensure similar situations do not occur again. The Academy also thanked Teyana for what it described as her “remarkable grace” following the incident.
Earlier the same day, Security Industry Specialists released its own statement addressing the situation. The company described the interaction as brief and said its personnel were working to manage a crowded area and maintain safety for attendees. It acknowledged that there was incidental contact during the exchange and expressed regret that the situation escalated.
The firm added that the incident did not reflect its expected standards of professionalism and confirmed that the matter had been addressed internally.
The incident came at the close of a major night for One Battle After Another, which was among the evening’s biggest winners. While the ceremony celebrated achievements in film, the backstage encounter quickly became one of the most widely discussed moments to emerge from the event.
