Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, & Others – Why Celebrities Skipped Oscars 2024

• The Oscars 2024 unfolded with its customary glamour, yet the absence of certain Hollywood heavyweights was conspicuous.
• The Dolby Theatre had a handful of vacant seats, as stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon were among those who missed the event.
• Some of these absentees later revealed the reasons behind their non-attendance at this highly anticipated occasion.

The Oscars, Hollywood's most prestigious night, is as much about the celebrities who grace the red carpet as it is about the awards themselves. However, even the grandest evening in cinema invariably has celebrities who are unable to make it, and this year was no different.

The ceremony saw a notable absence of several A-listers, sparking curiosity and speculation. Several of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Eva Mendes, Matt Damon, and Oscar winner Hayao Miyazaki, are among those who were conspicuously absent from the March 10, 2024 event.

Leonardo DiCaprio

DiCaprio, a household name in Hollywood, was notably absent from the 96th Academy Awards. Even though his film "Killers of the Flower Moon" was in the running for Best Picture and had garnered a total of 10 nominations, DiCaprio was notably absent from the event.

DiCaprio's absence was not due to a lack of recognition for his work. In fact, his portrayal of Ernest Burkhart in "Killers of the Flower Moon" was widely acclaimed, although it did not earn him a nomination for Best Actor. His absence may have been considered a snub by some, as DiCaprio's performance was highly praised and the film itself received significant recognition.

The reason for his absence was quite straightforward - he was tied up with work. On the day of the Oscars, DiCaprio was in production for his new film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. His commitment to his craft and his new project took precedence, leading him to opt out of the 2024 Academy Awards.

Eva Mendes

Many anticipated that the Canadian actor, Ryan Gosling, would make his entrance on the red carpet alongside his wife, Eva Mendes. However, he caught everyone off guard when he chose to appear with his sister, Mandi Gosling, instead.

Gosling, who was nominated for his supporting role as Ken in the blockbuster Barbie movie, and was scheduled to perform the nominated song "I'm Just Ken" became a talking point of the Academy Awards.

Following the awards, at the world premiere of "The Fall Guy" at SXSW in Austin, Gosling shared some behind-the-scenes insights. He revealed that his partner Mendes and their daughters, Esmeralda and Amada, had attended the dress rehearsal the day before the Oscars and had given him valuable feedback.

Gosling looked back on the experience with fondness. He shared that his family had attended the dress rehearsal the day before the Oscars and sat in the front row. Their feedback and suggestions were invaluable to him.

He also mentioned that it was his daughter’s fascination with Barbie and lack of interest in Ken that initially drew him to the role. He said, "It was beautiful to have them there at the end."

At the 96th Academy Awards, Gosling's live performance of "I'm Just Ken" was a standout moment, even though the song didn't win the Best Original Song award, losing to Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?" Even though Mendes didn't join Gosling on the red carpet, her support for him was unmistakable.

She posted a photo on Instagram wearing a pink blazer identical to Ken's "Barbie" blazer that Gosling wore during his performance, paired with a black cowboy hat. Accompanying the photo, Mendes penned a touching note to Gosling, expressing her deep pride and admiration for his accomplishments, "You took Ken all the way to the Oscars, RG. Now come home, we need to put the kids to bed. 💋"

Matt Damon

Before the event, Jimmy Kimmel, the evening's host, shared his thoughts on the delicate task of humorously engaging with the celebrities at the Dolby Theatre without crossing any boundaries. Matt Damon, a long-time friendly adversary of Kimmel, was a prime candidate for some light-hearted ribbing.

Damon who also had a role in the winning film, "Oppenheimer," found himself as the odd one out, not receiving an Oscar nomination while his co-stars did. Kimmel couldn't help but express his amusement at this situation, hinting that this might be a recurring theme during his hosting gig.

In a surprising revelation, Kimmel confirmed that Damon would not be attending the Oscars. When probed for a reason, Kimmel couldn’t resist making a joke at Damon's expense. He explained that Damon was unable to secure a ticket before adding, "It's one of the saddest things I've ever heard." According to Kimmel, Damon had asked if he could attend but was told that only nominees were allowed.

However, Damon didn't let this setback keep him away from the festivities. Despite missing the Oscars, Damon made his presence felt at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. The event, hosted by Radhika Jones at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, saw Damon arrive with his wife, the elegant Luciana Damon.

Hayao Miyazaki

While the Oscars is a celebration of cinematic achievement, not all winners can attend in person. This was the case for 83-year-old Hayao Miyazaki, the acclaimed Japanese filmmaker. His film "The Boy and the Heron," earned him his second Oscar, making him the oldest director to win in the animated feature film category in over two decades.

However, neither Miyazaki nor the film's producer, 75-year-old Toshio Suzuki, were not present to accept the award. were present to accept the award. Instead, presenters Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy graciously accepted the award on their behalf.

Kimmel humorously remarked on their absence, quipping, "Really? 'The Boy and the Heron' people couldn't make it? I mean, I can see maybe the boy not showing up, but the heron should be here."

Later, Kiyofumi Nakajima, who holds the position of Chief Operating Officer at Studio Ghibli, spoke to the press. He expressed regret for Miyazaki and Suzuki's absence. Nakajima reportedly attributed their non-attendance to their "age bracket."

Miyazaki, known for his creative brilliance in crafting animated masterpieces such as "My Neighbor Totoro," had earlier been awarded his first Oscar for "Spirited Away" in 2003. Even in his absence, his remarkable impact on the animation industry was acknowledged and honored at the Oscars.

Other Unseen Stars of the Night

Wes Anderson, the newly minted Best Live Action Short Film Oscar winner for "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar," was among the high-profile no-shows. Although he could not accept his award in person, he celebrated the achievement by paying tribute to the cast and crew, including stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Ben Kingsley.

Anderson also recounted a personal story about how a serendipitous encounter with Owen Wilson at the University of Texas when he was 18 had influenced his career. Anderson and Steven Rales were in Germany, preparing to kick off filming for their new movie the following day.

Tom Holland, although not nominated himself, was anticipated to appear alongside his girlfriend Zendaya, one of the evening’s presenters, on the red carpet. Taylor Swift, who had just concluded the international leg of her tour in Singapore, was also not in attendance.

Model Gigi Hadid, who was expected to make her red carpet debut with her boyfriend and "Maestro" nominee Bradley Cooper, reportedly chose to stay at home with her 3-year-old daughter Khai. A much-anticipated reunion was also missed when Al Pacino came on stage alone to present the award in the evening's Best Picture category.

He was originally slated to appear alongside his "Scarface" co-star Michelle Pfeiffer. However, Pfeiffer was unable to attend the Los Angeles ceremony due to personal family commitments on the East Coast. Despite these absences, the Oscars remained a significant event in the film industry, with many stars receiving recognition for their work.