Tems, a singer-songwriter, genuinely had a stop and stare moment at the 2023 Oscars.
The “Free Mind” singer (real name Temilade Openiyi) wore a white Lever Couture gown with delicate tulle fabric braided into an asymmetrical pattern from head to toe. She wore it with silver gemstone shoes and glitter on her wrists and fingers.
Although the 27-year-old performer dazzled on the red carpet, her face revealed a different tale as she entered the auditorium, particularly for the audience members seated behind her.
When Tems appeared on TV during the live broadcast, she was criticized for the shape of the hood on her dress, which flowed out to one side and went up over the musician’s top knot bun, blocking the view of some of the guests.
The moment quickly went viral on social media. Although some dubbed the moment “rude,” others who were more attentive of the style pointed out that the shape of the dress should’ve been changed or abandoned entirely for the show.
One Twitter user quipped that whoever is sitting behind the singer is probably “heated” because of the restricted view, while many others remarked on how beautiful she appeared in her gown. One Twitter user remarked that she “stole the show,” which is an accurate judgment.
Another Twitter user speculated that Tems is “taking up space” as a black lady in the crowd.
Devon Sawa, the star of Gasoline Alley, likewise made light of the situation. He posted an image of the singer from the event on Sunday, with an arrow pointing to the row behind her. “I’m seated right here. Good news is, I’m at the Oscars. Bad news is I can’t see a thing,” he wrote humorously.
Tems was nominated with Rihanna, Ryan Coogler, and Ludwig Göransson for “Best Achievement in Music Composed for Motion Pictures (Original Song)” for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever song “Lift Me Up.”
