Exploring the Hollywood rivalries that still haunt the Academy Awards today

July 24, 2025: The glitz and glamour of the Oscars often mask the fierce rivalries simmering backstage. From the historic venom between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford to modern controversies, Hollywood’s biggest night has long been marked by personal feuds and cultural tensions.

A Rivalry for the Ages

At the 1963 Oscars, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? brought Bette Davis and Joan Crawford head to head in one of cinema’s most legendary showdowns. Davis, already an established star, was nominated, while Crawford, snubbed for nomination, mounted a publicity blitz—offering to accept the award on behalf of other nominees to undermine Davis. When Anne Bancroft ultimately won Best Actress, Crawford accepted the statuette with relish, cementing a public spectacle of resentment that still defines their feud.

From Legacy Battle to On-Screen Drama

Decades later, creator Ryan Murphy dramatized their rivalry in his series Feud, starring Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon. Drawing from interviews and studio lore, the show explored systemic sexism in Hollywood, ageism, and the emotional toll of being pitted against each other for publicity.

Feuds That Mirror the Past

While there’s no Crawford—or Davis—in today’s Academy, echoes of the frenzy remain. At the 2025 Oscars, Karla Sofía Gascón’s nomination for Emilia Perez stirred intense debate after resurfaced tweets revealed bigoted views. The backlash was swift and sweeping—some argue this internet-fueled scandal may have derailed her awards trajectory entirely.

One Reddit commentator summed up the scene:

“This is literal confirmation that the controversy hit deep with Academy voters… Greatest Oscar season of the last few years.”

Why These Feuds Still Matter

Power plays behind the glitz – Personal or political, rivalries often mirror broader friction: race, legacy, representation.

Internet amplifies everything – Old scandals now explode online; platforms ensure no controversial moment is forgotten.

Storytelling resilience – From Feud to streaming documentaries, the media continues mining these rivalries as rich cultural artifacts.

Who’s Next in the Hot Seat?

As the Oscars evolve, so do the rivalries. With campaigns, politics, and personalities crossing paths in real time, today’s tensions may look less glamorous but feel equally dramatic. Time will tell which modern conflict becomes Hollywood legend.

Bottom Line

What began as backstage snipes between Hollywood icons has transformed into high-stakes drama played out across screens big and small. From Davis vs. Crawford to the controversies of 2025, Oscar rivalries remind us: behind every gold statuette is a story of ambition, betrayal, and the complex legacy of fame.