Hulu Apologizes For Oscar Live Stream Problems After Intense Backlash
Hulu issues an apology following significant technical issues during its inaugural live stream of the 2025Oscars, which left many viewers frustrated after missing out on major moments of the ceremony. The broadcast, hosted by Conan O'Brien, was marred by problems that began early in the evening, with users experiencing blank screens, repeated logouts, and abrupt interruptions throughout O'Brien's opening monologue and performances by Wicked's Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. These Oscar issues prevented viewers from seeing some of the biggest segments of the 97th Academy Awards, including the announcement of the Best Picture winner, Anora.
As reported by TheWrap, a Disney spokesperson issued a statement in response to the widespread backlash as over 30,000 viewers reported having issues with Hulu. This unexpected cutoff happened when the Oscars ran overtime, cutting out Mikey Madison's Best Actress win for Anora and the film's subsequent Best Picture victory, where director Sean Baker made history as the first filmmaker to ever personally win four Oscars for one film in the same ceremony. Read the apology below:
Yesterday evening, we experienced technical and livestream issues on Hulu which impacted some Oscars viewers. We apologize for the experience. A full replay of the event is available on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
What This Means For Hulu's Oscar-Cast
Some Oscars Viewers Were Left Hanging
The live-stream shutdown occurred moments after the Academy awarded Best Director to Sean Baker for Anora, cutting off viewers as the ceremony headed into what should have been a commercial break. Instead, audiences were met with a screen stating the event had ended—despite the fact that two of the night's biggest awards, Best Actress and Best Picture, had yet to be announced. While outrage quickly spread online, Hulu was unable to restore the stream before Anora was crowned Best Picture.
Oscars 2025 Upset: How Mikey Madison Beat Demi Moore For Best Actress Despite Losing 3 Major Awards
The 25-year-old actress pulled a massive upset at the biggest awards show of the year despite missing out on 3 other key awards earlier in the year.
Though Hulu and Disney+ offer a full Oscars replay, viewers took to social media to express their frustration, particularly those eagerly awaiting the Best Actress reveal. Demi Moore had long been considered the frontrunner for The Substance, having already secured major wins, including a Golden Globe. However, in a shocking Oscars moment that Hulu viewers missed in real time, Madison took home the award. This debacle comes as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences actively explores new broadcast partners, given that its deal with ABC (owned by Disney) expires in 2028.
Our Take On Disney's Apology
Is This Streaming Mishap The Only Thing Ruining The Oscars?
As I watched the Oscars on Hulu last night, I didn’t find the outages too disruptive—social media was flooded with moments I might've missed almost instantly. With clips, reactions, and major wins spreading in real time, some viewers may not feel as tied to a seamless live broadcast as they once did. Given Disney’s brief apology, it doesn’t seem like they’re too troubled by the errors either, but with the Academy considering new broadcast partners in the future as their TV ratings decline, they may not have the luxury of brushing off such a high-profile failure.
Source: TheWrap
The Oscars, also known as The Academy Awards, is an annual awards show celebrating workers in the film industry for their artistic and technical abilities. The Oscars are often considered the most prestigious awards show in the industry and date back to 1929. The 96th Academy Awards will be held on March 10, 2024, and be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel on ABC.
