Zoe Kravitz has found herself at the centre of an online storm after a seemingly offhand remark about fellow actor Austin Butler took an unexpected and awkward turn.
The incident occurred during a promotional interview for her new film, where the conversation turned to Butler's transformative and Oscar-nominated performance in Baz Luhrmann's Elvis. Kravitz, who starred alongside Butler in The Batman, appeared to attempt a compliment that spectacularly missed the mark.
"He's a great guy and I loved his performance in Elvis," she began, before adding the cringe-worthy clincher: "but I really think it was all down to the big nose they gave him."
The comment was met with immediate silence from the interviewer, with Kravitz quickly realising her gaffe. She was seen visibly backtracking, attempting to clarify that she was referring to the prosthetic nose used for the biopic, not Butler's own features.
However, the damage was done. Clips of the awkward moment swiftly spread across social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, igniting a firestorm of reactions from fans and commentators alike.
Fan Reaction Divided
The court of public opinion is split. Many critics have slammed the remark as "unnecessary" and "rude," questioning why an actor's physical prosthetics would be singled out as the primary reason for a acclaimed performance.
One fan tweeted: "Reducing Austin's incredible work to a 'big nose' is such a disservice. He completely embodied Elvis, it was about so much more than makeup."
Others have rushed to Kravitz's defence, labelling the incident a simple case of a "foot-in-mouth" moment taken out of context. Supporters argue her intention was clearly to praise the film's acclaimed makeup and hair team, not to diminish Butler's acting chops.
As of now, neither Kravitz nor Butler has publicly addressed the viral clip. The focus for both actors remains on their upcoming projects, though this viral interlude has certainly captured the attention of the entertainment world.
