The 31st Critics' Choice Awards, held at the Barker Hangar, delivered its usual glitz and predictive power for the upcoming Oscars, but one of the night's most memorable moments came from the audience. Teyana Taylor, the 35-year-old actress and singer, was declared the unofficial 'hype woman of the year' by netizens after her ecstatic, viral reactions to the success of her film, One Battle After Another.
Uncontainable Enthusiasm for Director's Win
When director Paul Thomas Anderson was announced as the winner of the Best Director award, Taylor's joy was immediate and unrestrained. She sprang to her feet, embraced Anderson fiercely, and cheered him on with palpable fervour. The filmmaker briefly returned the hug before making his way to the stage. However, as social media users were quick to note, this was merely a warm-up for Taylor.
The real eruption came later when One Battle After Another secured the night's top honour, Best Picture. Joining her co-stars on stage, Taylor loudly shouted 'Let's go!', much to the amusement of her castmates and the audience. Her unfiltered delight became an instant highlight of the ceremony, broadcast live and hosted for the fourth consecutive year by Chelsea Handler.
Social Media Erupts with Amused Reactions
Viewers quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate Taylor's passionate support. One user succinctly tweeted, 'Teyana Taylor, hype woman of the year.' Another humorously quipped, 'Teyana Taylor too excited about Paul winning best director! Know he wanted to tell her "girl, be calm,"' accompanied by laughing-crying emojis.
The consensus online was one of affectionate amusement. 'I love Teyana Taylor but sometimes she needs to bring it down a notch,' one fan wrote. Another observed, 'The way Teyana Taylor is screaming though.' A fan summed up the sentiment perfectly: 'We may love Paul Thomas Anderson, but we'll never love him as much as Teyana Taylor loves him.'
A Night of Major Wins and Oscar Predictions
Beyond the viral moment, the ceremony solidified One Battle After Another's place as an awards season frontrunner. The Warner Bros. film also won Best Adapted Screenplay for Paul Thomas Anderson. Other major film winners included Timothée Chalamet for Best Actor in Marty Supreme and Jessie Buckley for Best Actress in Hamnet.
In television, HBO Max's The Pitt won Best Drama Series, with Noah Wyle taking Best Actor in a Drama. Apple TV's The Studio won Best Comedy Series, and Netflix's Adolescence was crowned Best Limited Series.
The Critics' Choice Awards, launched in 1995, are renowned for their accuracy in forecasting Academy Award success. Last season, Anora used its Critics' Choice win to build momentum all the way to the Oscars, a path One Battle After Another will now hope to follow. With Teyana Taylor as its most vocal cheerleader, the film's journey will certainly be a loud one.
