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What seemed like a rather mundane 93rd Annual Academy Awards evening, closed with a refreshing moment courtesy of Glenn Close. Although an eight-time nominee, Close has never taken home an Oscar. This didn’t stop her from providing a bit of levity before the ‘In Memoriam’ Oscar tributes. Comedian, actor and Oscars co-host, Lil’ Rel Howery, returned for a round of Best Original Song trivia with Andra Day, Daniel Kaluuya — who also grabbed the Best Supporting Actor award — and ended of course with Close (who would soon go viral).
Glenn Close stole the show at the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/dYeKMfqUW0
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 26, 2021
When asked by Howery, to play a game of name-that-tune, Close immediately identified oldies twerk jam “Da Butt,” by Washington, DC, go-go band Experience Unlimited. “It was a classic song,” the 74-year-old Hillbilly Elegy co-star recalls. She went on to share some fun facts about the hit dance song, during which she noted that Academy Award-winning director Spike Lee featured the booty-bouncing classic in his 1988 film School Daze but was snubbed of an Oscar nomination.
Glenn Close, everyone! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/akwOxvRS6s
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) April 26, 2021
“Wait a second… I know, that’s ‘Da Butt!'” Close said. “‘Da Butt’ was a classic song by the great Washington, D.C., go-go band E.U. So, shout-outs to Sugar Bear and the whole backyard band… I remember this, so Spike Lee had it written for his brilliant movie, School Daze. And my friends at the Oscars, um, missed it, and it wasn’t nominated so it couldn’t have won which I think is just an *effin tragedy.” Howery after getting a full rundown of the hit song, teased Close asking if she knew how to do the dance, and well, she rose to the occasion. Twitter went into a frenzy highlighting Close’s performance of “Da Butt” was deserving of an Oscar itself.
Glenn Close gave a history lesson, cussed the Oscars out for not nominating Da Butt and then did it. Icon😭
— Ashley K. (@AshleyKSmalls) April 26, 2021
The Los Angeles Times has confirmed that Close’s “twerk-tastic performance” was part of a scripted bit designed for laughs — and it worked. She definitely added some life to a monotonous night.
