Wicked‘s Bowen Yang may have been betrayed at the 2025 Oscars. Yang played Pfannee, a close friend of Ariana Grande’s Glinda in the musical adaptation. Wicked‘s star-studded cast helped to usher the movie to a $729 million box office take. All the while, it secured extraordinary responses from critics, with ScreenRant‘s Wicked review calling it “a worthy screen adaptation” and “the kind of epic, cinematic musical that we very much deserve.” It earned 10 Oscar nominations and has already brought home the Academy Awards for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.

While helping to present that Oscar for Best Costume Design, Yang came dressed in a Shiz University uniform from Wicked. The other stars, Lily-Rose Depp (Nosferatu), Elle Fanning (A Complete Unknown), John Lithgow (Conclave), and Connie Nielsen (Gladiator II) came in normal dress clothes, making Yang’s entrance somewhat awkward. Yang claimed that the group planned it together, only for the others to back out. Unfortunately, his fellow stars called his costume “cringe.” Check out the video below:

\n”‘};

window.arrayOfEmbedScripts[“twitter”] = “”””;

What Yang’s Costume Sketch Meant For The Oscars

It Helped To Provide Some Extra Levity

The mix-up was certainly planned, and it only added to the humor that has already been present throughout the 2025 Academy Awards. Yang is an accomplished comedian who established himself as a writer for Saturday Night Live early in his career. From there, he found a place in the cast, and he maintains a role in the show. Wicked was somewhat of a departure for him, in that it is a more dramatic than comedic project. Otherwise, it is no great surprise that he would find an opportunity to lead a sketch at the Oscars.

Even so, it is always fun to see good sketches at the ceremony. Without these moments, the Oscars would be nothing more than a list of names and speeches. The surprising moments help to provide a reason for viewers to tune in even if they have not seen every Oscar-winning movie of the night. It is also a perfect decision for a moment specifically designed to honor the costumes. The sketch would never have worked otherwise. As it is, having actors dressed in their costumes is only natural for the Best Costume Design category.

Our Take On Bowen Yang’s Oscars Sketch

This Is How It Should Be Done

All five of these nominees had brilliant costumes that took immense skill to create. Yang’s decision to wear his costume to the Oscars actually managed to honor Wicked in a unique way. Every Academy Award ceremony should borrow from this sketch by having the actors appear in full costume. It makes for a better show, reveals just how much effort goes into making those costumes, and it provides endless entertainment for audiences. The Oscars would be much more fun if the other categories were similarly individualized.

Source: ABC News (X/Twitter)