Teyana Taylor might’ve looked like the one dripped in Chanel at the 2026 Oscars. However, a heated moment with security proved she wasn’t—at least, not one to play with! In addition to her speaking out about the incident and her energy at the ceremony, Dionne Warwick and the Academy have also shared statements. And spoiler alert? They’re team Teyana!
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Viral Clip Shows Teyana Taylor Clocking Man
As mentioned, the internet learned of the heated moment after a clip from X account @MattWallace888 circulated. The viral video has over 1.9 million views on X as of Monday morning, more than 1,300 replies and over 17,000 likes. In it, Teyana Taylor is heard telling the unidentified man and onlookers that he shoved her. She also calls him “very rude” several times while pointing in his direction.
“You’re a man putting your hands on a female,” the ‘One Battle After Another’ star says in the viral clip.
Another woman near Teyana is heard saying, “…uncalled for” and afterwards gently grabs Taylor’s pointing hand. TT then explains to another woman near her why she popped off, saying, “Everybody’s having a good time. But when you shove me, it’s a different story…Do not touch me, do not shove me.”
SWIPE BELOW TO SEE THE CLIP.
Teyana Explains Security Incident, Later Defends Her Energy At The Ceremony
Later in the evening, TMZ caught up with TT. She was open about her reason for sounding off on the security guard, clarifying that everything was “all good.”
“Security was just doing a lot,” Teyana Taylor said. “There’s always that one, but I’m perfectly fine. I’m happy. There’s nothing to wonder. The first thing people do is definitely make assumptions. But at the end of the day I just don’t tolerate disrespect, especially when it’s unwarranted and unprovoked.”
The following day, folks online were going on and on about Teyana Taylor’s “behavior” at the awards. Many fans saw her energy during the ceremony, from her cheering in the audience to putting Paul Thomas Anderson in a playful headlock, as pure excitement. But those clips combined with the security guard incident also had critics claiming TT was “doing too much.” In a tweet on Monday, sis cleared the haters with grace! Since posting, it’s been viewed at least two million times.
“The world holds so much misery that miserable hearts forget the face of happiness. They grow comfortable being sore losers, so when they see real sportsmanship it unsettles them! like holy water touching a demon. Because clapping for someone else’s victory requires something many people never learned…how to win with grace & pure joy, and how to lose with grace, chin up & dignity,” Teyana Taylor wrote.
Dionne Warwick & The Academy STEP For Teyana Taylor
Also on X, Dionne Warwick made her stance on Teyana clear: don’t play with her! Her Monday tweet, credited Taylor for moving with grace.
“So proud of my baby @TEYANATAYLOR on so many levels. She stood her ground with that security situation like the class act she is and getting her FIRST Oscar nomination? That’s my girl. You go dear!!!”
Meanwhile, the Academy also didn’t let Monday slide without apologizing to Teyana Taylor for the security guard’s energy. They also praised her energy throughout award season, per a statement released to Variety.
“We were extremely upset to learn about the experience endured by Teyana Taylor at the end of the Oscars ceremony last night. We have worked with Teyana over the last several months during awards season, and she has been nothing short of remarkable, supportive, kind, and all about community. Though the incident was with our outside security firm SIS, the experience of every single guest is our responsibility. We have made it clear to them that this behavior is not acceptable. We want to thank Teyana for showing remarkable grace, and we are taking the appropriate measures to ensure this does not happen again.”
She later responded to the tweet from Variety, writing, “Thank you to @TheAcademy I really appreciate your unwavering love & support.”
‘One Battle After Another’ Cleared At The Oscars And TT Reveals “Headlock” Reaction Was “Inside Joke”
On Sunday night, Teyana Taylor was up for her first Oscar for ‘Best Supporting Actress.’ She got the nod for her role as Perfidia in ‘One Battle After Another.’ However, she ultimately lost to Amy Madigan in ‘Weapons.’
Meanwhile, the film itself came in with 13 nominations, and by the end of the night had won six. ‘One Battle After Another’ cleared in the ‘Best Picture,’ ‘Best Director,’ ‘Best Casting,’ ‘Adapted Screenplay,’ ‘Editing’ and ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for Sean Penn. While accepting the ‘Best Picture’ award, filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson credited Teyana Taylor and the rest of the cast, who joined him on stage.
TT put Anderson in the headlock right before this moment. Teyana told Variety at the Vanity Fair afterparty that it was a running joke with the director. She also said he knew what was coming. For context, the filmmaker has not publicly said otherwise. She also attributed her energy to being a “sports girl” by nature.
“We kind of took it back to Critics Choice and I told him like, ‘Listen, when you get that Best Picture, I’m telling you now, I’m gonna get you a helmet.’ Because I’m such a sports girl. I’m like, ‘Yeah!'”
Teyana Taylor on putting Paul Thomas Anderson in a headlock after winning Best Picture at the #Oscars: “He already knew it was coming.” pic.twitter.com/k7bP917Wpp
— Variety (@Variety) March 16, 2026
