Vanity Fair's Oscar Party Harsh Lighting Leaves Stars Dismayed and in Tears
The Vanity Fair Oscar after-party, long hailed as the most exclusive celebration following the Academy Awards, faced significant criticism this year due to its harsh lighting conditions. Many guests were reportedly left dismayed by the bright, unforgiving lights at the star-studded event, which exposed every flaw and imperfection in photographs. The issue became so severe that one actress was left in tears over photos that made her look like a 'Diane Arbus character,' according to the Hollywood Reporter.
New Venue and Lighting Woes
Vanity Fair's new editor, Mark Guiducci, moved the event from its longtime home at the Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) this year. Despite the classy new location, partygoers—including high-profile names like Kris Jenner and her famous daughters, Demi Moore, Mia Goth, and Heidi Klum—recoiled at the 'unforgiving' bright lights. One guest expressed sympathy, stating, 'I genuinely feel bad for some of these women. One poor actress looked like a Diane Arbus character. She was on her phone looking at her pictures and shrieking at her publicist. I heard that she went home and cried herself to sleep. Nobody has heard from her since!'
Brutal Comparisons and High-Definition Discomfort
The comparison to Diane Arbus is particularly brutal, given the photographer's legacy of haunting imagery focused on unconventional subjects captured in a stark style opposite to Hollywood glamour. Another insider described the experience as 'like being shot in extremely high-def. You saw a lot of excess pounds and wrinkles that used to be hidden. Nobody wants to be photographed like that!' This year's lighting stood in stark contrast to the soft, golden glow of previous bashes, with one longtime guest noting that in prior years, 'even the ugliest stars knew they'd come out all right. It was like magic.'
Additional Complaints and Changes
The glamour took another hit when the traditional red carpet was replaced by a light gray shag, which was mocked for its drab appearance by social media users. Guiducci was reportedly determined to restore the party's fading luster and ordered a brutal refinement of the guest list, focusing only on AAA-list stars. This year, the red carpet excluded B-listers like media reporters and TV stars. Notably, high-profile star Emma Stone skipped the event, opting for other parties instead, and commented in a video shared to X, 'It’s so weird, even if you’re nominated, it doesn’t mean you can go.'
Venue Issues and Mixed Reactions
Guests at the new LACMA venue were supposed to get a first look at the museum's new David Geffen galleries, but the area remained unfinished by the night of the Oscars, forcing the party to a less glitzy part of the museum. Complaints also extended to traffic and the party's 'influencer emcees,' who reportedly 'insulted several VIPs.' However, not everyone was ready to write off the bash just yet. One guest pointed out that it was merely the 'first time' at the new venue, adding, 'I’ll still go next year.' The guest list this year featured notable names like Kylie Jenner, Timothee Chalamet, Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, Jessica Alba, and Hailey Bieber.
