The iconic moment when Jennifer Lawrence stumbled on the Oscars stage in 2013, en route to receiving the Best Actress award, has etched itself into Hollywood history.
This incident, marking her first Oscar win for Silver Linings Playbook, left Lawrence grappling with mixed emotions. Speaking on Heather McMahan’s Absolutely Not podcast, the 30-year-old actress reflected on the unforgettable tumble. She revealed her nervousness and superstition, admitting to not wanting to jinx her chances by preparing a speech. Despite the initial elation upon hearing her name called, the fall erased everything from her mind, turning the incident into a sensitive memory for a prolonged period.
The aftermath included a supportive standing ovation from the audience, but Lawrence's feelings were wounded when Anderson Cooper, a news anchor, suggested on CNN that she had feigned the fall.
"Anderson Cooper, I saw him on CNN three days later saying, ‘Well, she obviously faked the fall,’ and it was so devastating because it was this horrific humiliation to me," Lawrence shared. "I’ll tell you what, I saw him at a Christmas party and I let him know. He apologized. I think we’re good friends now."
During their encounter, Lawrence confronted Cooper about the challenges of walking up stairs in a ball gown, questioning his certainty about her intentions. Cooper promptly apologized, and Lawrence accepted, emphasizing the difficulty of the situation.
Reflecting on the incident backstage at the awards show, Lawrence humorously pointed out the impracticality of navigating stairs in her elaborate Christian Dior Couture gown. She attributed the fall to stepping on the fabric, speculating that the stairs might have been waxed.
In the end, Lawrence's ability to confront the skepticism and find humor in the situation exemplifies her resilience in the face of unexpected challenges on one of the most celebrated nights in her career.
