The Substance fans have called out the ‘irony’ of Demi Moore missing out on the Best Actress Oscar, claiming it’s a case of ‘life imitating art’.
In the critically acclaimed film, Demi plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a famed TV aerobics instructor who is unceremoniously sacked as she hits her 50th birthday.
She takes a black-market drug which can create a ‘younger, more beautiful, more perfect’ version of its user but is left struggling with the balance after her younger version Sue (played by Margaret Qualley) becomes a star.
Demi, 62, was a hot favourite during awards season but on Sunday night she lost out to rising star Mikey Madison, 25.
With Mikey four decades younger than Demi and at the beginning of what will surely be an illustrious career, many were quick to point out that Demi losing to her was much like the plot of The Substance.
Taking to X/Twitter, fans shared: ‘wow demi moore getting passed up for a younger brighter star someone should make a movie about this’.


The Substance fans have called out the ‘irony’ of Demi Moore missing out on the Best Actress Oscar to Mikey Madison (right) claiming it’s a case of ‘life imitating art’

In the critically acclaimed film Demi plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a famed TV aerobics instructor who is unceremoniously sacked as she hits her 50th birthday

She creates a ‘younger, more perfect’ version of herself but is left struggling with the balance after her younger version Sue (played by Margaret Qualley) becomes a star
Others added: ‘The layers of irony to this year’s race as it relates to The Substance with Demi Moore losing to a younger actress. It’s kinda sad. #Oscars’; ‘Demi Moore losing to Mikey Madison is basically the plot of the Substance’;
‘Demi Moore losing Best Actress to a younger, hotter actress is literally what The Substance is about. Crazy. #Oscars’; ‘Kinda crazy that Demi Moore losing to Mikey Madison is literally the plot of The Substance…………. #Oscars’;
‘i’m not pitting women against each other i am a working writer and not a stan in case weirdos read this: mikey winning best actress is such an interesting way to close out the demi moore press cycle for the substance. life imitates art etc.’;
‘does anyone else think demi moore losing best actress to a younger star might be evocative of the substance itself #thinking’;
‘The horrible irony of The Substance / Demi Moore losing awards to a movie about a beautiful, young, sex worker is actually making the existence of The Substance better and more meaningful which is crazy’.
Demi was left crushed as Mikey Madison beat her to the coveted Best Actress award, on a night when Anora dominated with five wins including Best Picture.
Her upset was palpable as she sat with a clenched jaw when Mikey’s name was called out in front of a stunned audience at the 97th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
Mikey portrays an escort in Anora, an independent film with a $6 million budget for which Sean Baker won Best Director. She recognized the sex worker community in a touching acceptance speech.







With Mikey four decades younger than Demi and at the beginning of what will surely be an illustrious career, many were quick to point out that Demi losing to her was much like the plot
She said: ‘I also just want to, again, recognize and honor the sex worker community. I will. Yes. I will continue to support and be an ally.
‘All of the incredible people, the women that I’ve had the privilege of meeting from that community has been one of the highlights of this incredible experience.’
Other big winners on Sunday night included Zoe Saldana, who took home the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in the controversial Emilia Perez, and Adrien Brody, who triumphed over Timothée Chalamet for the Best Actor award with his performance in the The Brutalist. Kieran Culkin kicked off the evening with a Best Supporting Actor win for A Real Pain.
At the end of the night Anora earned top prize Best Picture Award over The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked.
Anora’s writer and director Sean Baker also earned three awards including: Best Original Screenplay, Achievement in Film Editing, and the coveted Best Director.
The film is centered around a young escort named Ani (played by Mikey) from Brooklyn meets and impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairy tale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
Adrien Brody took home his second ever Best Actor award earlier in the night.
The 51-year-old actor stopped the exit music from playing as he was recognized for his work in The Brutalist.

The big four acting winners are seen from left to right: Adrien, Mikey, Zoe, and Kieran

Another big winner included Zoe Saldana in the Best Supporting Actress category for the controversial Emilia Perez


Adrien Brody (left) bested Timothee Chalamet for the Best Actor gong for The Brutalist as Kieran Culkin (right) kicked off the night with a Best Supporting Actor win for A Real Pain
He beat out an impressive field including: Timothée Chalamet — A Complete Unknown, Colman Domingo — Sing Sing, Ralph Fiennes — Conclave, and Sebastian Stan — The Apprentice.
Adrian previously won Best Actor for his work on classic film The P
iano back in 2003.
Zoe Saldaña shook the controversy surrounding her film Emilia Pérez as she earned Best Supporting Actress.
The show hit a high note as the 46-year-old American actress was crowned for the Netflix film.
She triumphed over: Monica Barbaro — A Complete Unknown, Ariana Grande — Wicked, Felicity Jones — The Brutalist, and Isabella Rossellini — Conclave.
Zoe became the first ever Oscar winner of Dominican descent and made sure to thank her ancestors for paving the way to have a successful acting career in America.
Emilia Pérez has earned a tide of negative publicity after racist and Islamophobic tweets from her costar Karla Sofía Gascón — some quite recent — were discovered.
Netflix went so far as to stop covering Gascón’s travel for awards shows, but she did appear at the Oscars.

It was definitely considered an upset as Demi had earned the same prize at most of the awards season events for her work on The Substance as the field was completed by Cynthia Erivo — Wicked, Karla Sofía Gascón — Emilia Pérez, and Fernanda Torres — I’m Still Here

At the end of the night the film earned top prize Best Picture Award over The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked

Anora’s writer and director Sean Baker also earned three awards including: Best Original Screenplay, Achievement in Film Editing, and the coveted Best Director

The film is centered around a young escort named Ani (played by Mikey) from Brooklyn meets and impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairy tale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled

Adrien Brody took home his second ever Best Actor award at the 2025 Oscars

Zoe Saldaña shook the controversy surrounding her film Emilia Pérez as she earned Best Supporting Actress at the 2025 Oscars

The 2025 Oscars started out in fine form as Kieran Culkin took home the first award of the night

Paul Tazewell became the first Black male winner of Achievement in Costume Design for his work in Wicked
The award show started out in fine form as Kieran Culkin took home the first award of the night.
It kicked off with the 42-year-old actor taking home Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in A Real Pain.
He beat out an impressive field including: Yura Borisov — Anora, Edward Norton — A Complete Unknown, Guy Pearce — The Brutalist, and his Succession co-star Jeremy Strong — The Apprentice.
Blockbuster Wicked did not come away empty handed as Paul Tazewell became the first Black male winner of Achievement in Costume Design.