If it's the scent of buttery popcorn you're smelling, it's because the 98th Academy Awards — also known as the Oscars — takes place on March 15, 2026, to celebrate the previous year's accomplishments in the cinematic arts.
It's not just about the movies, though; the Oscars are the Super Bowl of celebrity red carpet looks, memorable speeches, unexpected political statements and enough gossip to fill the tabloid pages for weeks. Over the years, Snopes has investigated a variety of rumors associated with the Academy Awards and the famous people who attend the ceremonies.
Our Oscars coverage runs the gamut from the legendary story about an alleged conflict between John Wayne and indigenous activist Sacheen Littlefeather during the 1973 ceremony to checking out rumors of a large monetary settlement following the infamous incident in which actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage in 2022.
Collected below are a selection of 15 claims surrounding the Oscars that we've looked into over the years.
