Pop Culture Advent 2023: Door 3
Angela Bassett did The Thing
What actually was The Thing that Angela Bassett did? A question that West Side Story and Oscar Winner, Ariana DeBose, had us asking after the BAFTA awards back in February.
It’s kinda hard to explain this one, so bear with, but long story short – DeBose was brought on to do a rap. It’s most notable section can be viewed here:
What was meant to be a celebration of the female nominees, soon because memed and mocked, in no small part to the mixed reactions in the audience.
Ana de Armes might as well be holding a neon sign that spells out ‘what the fuck?’
Cate Blanchett (sorry, “Blanchett, Cate”) has the frozen smile of someone being trapped in a corner at a party, forced to make small talk to the world’s most boring guest.
I’m not quite sure what the expression is here from Jamie Lee Curtis. Pride? Amusement? Terror? Is she seeing her life flash before her eyes? It’s hard to tell.
Listen, I’ve got no business slagging off Ariana DeBose, who are more talent in her left pinkie that I am ever going to process. However, when The Internet deems you its main character for the week, then it’s best to sit back and ride that crest of a wave. And boy, did the internet deliver:
Just as the week was coming to an end and the memes were running dry – step forward the NAACP Image Awards.
Angela Bassett was awarded multiple times during the ceremony, winning Entertainer of the year, Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for 9–1–1 and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for Black Panther. It was during one of those speeches that Bassett responded by crying “Angela Bassett did the thing!”
What thing did Angela do? Be an awfully good sport.
Pop Culture Advent Door Two — Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow
