It’s been over a decade since the infamous 2014 Oscars selfie took the internet by storm.
The now-iconic photo, featuring some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, was once celebrated as a symbol of the industry’s glamour. But in recent years, fans have been revisiting the image with a different perspective—some even calling it “cursed.”
According to the New York Post, critics have gone so far as to dub it a “hellfie.” But why?
To understand, you have to take a closer look at the people in the frame.
For those who may not remember, the moment took place during the live broadcast of the 2014 Academy Awards. Host Ellen DeGeneres, known for her playful antics, grabbed her smartphone and ran into the audience. Soon, a cluster of Hollywood A-listers gathered around her, with The Hangover star Bradley Cooper holding the phone to snap the picture.
The selfie featured an all-star lineup: Jared Leto, Jennifer Lawrence, Channing Tatum, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Lupita Nyong’o (alongside her brother Peter), and the legendary Meryl Streep. At the time, it was seen as a fun, spontaneous moment. But in hindsight, many now view it as a snapshot of Hollywood’s changing landscape.
Let’s start with Ellen DeGeneres. Once a beloved talk show host, she faced serious allegations in 2022 when former employees accused her of fostering a “toxic” work environment. Reports claimed that her show was plagued by racism, fear, and intimidation, with executives allegedly engaging in sexual harassment and discriminatory behavior. The scandal severely damaged her reputation.
Then there’s Kevin Spacey. The House of Cards actor was at the peak of his career when, in 2017, he faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. Though he was later acquitted, his career never recovered, and he remains largely absent from Hollywood.
Bradley Cooper, despite receiving 10 Oscar nominations since the selfie, has yet to take home a golden statuette—an ongoing disappointment in an otherwise successful career.
But it’s not just professional downfalls that have tainted the photo—several high-profile relationships have crumbled as well.
Two years after the selfie was taken, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ended their marriage, leading to a lengthy and bitter legal battle over their shared winery.
In 2023, it was revealed that Meryl Streep and her husband of 45 years, Don Gummer, had quietly separated—six years prior.
And while his former wife Jenna Dewan wasn’t in the photo, Channing Tatum’s marriage also unraveled just four years later, marking another split connected to the picture.
With so many careers and relationships taking a turn for the worse after the selfie, it’s no wonder people have come to see it as an eerie symbol of Hollywood misfortune.