There were plenty of A-list celebrities in attendance at the Oscars this year, but one unlikely movie star stole the show of them all, at least for a brief moment: Anatomy of a Fall’s dog actor, Messi.
The talented dog made a surprise appearance in the audience at the 2024 Academy Awards, where he quickly became a firm favorite among guests and spectators alike, even earning a delighted nod from Barbie star Ryan Gosling, when the pup ‘clapped’ . for Robert Downey Jr.
In a now-viral moment during the ceremony, cameras were seen looking at the famous dog, who appeared to ‘slap’ the Iron Man star after his Best Supporting Actor win for Oppenheimer.
Although behind-the-scenes footage showed the moment was cleverly designed with the use of two fake paws, that didn’t stop social media users from expressing their delight at the French dog’s appearance, with one hailing the pup as the ‘ real’. star’ of this year’s ceremony.
Anatomy of a Fall’s dog star Messi earned viral fame at the Oscars after ‘clapping’ for Robert Downey Jr. when he won Best Supporting Actor
Barbie star Ryan Gosling broke out into a wild grin when he spotted Border Collie Messi in the crowd
Viewers raved about 43-year-old Ryan’s reaction to the pup as he crowned Messi ‘the best boi’ at the Oscars
Behind-the-scenes footage shows the moment was carefully captured using fake dog paws
Just days before the Oscars, it was reported that Messi would not attend, but he managed to score a plum seat at the ceremony
Other behind-the-scenes clips shared on social media show that Messi’s ‘slap moment’ was in fact pre-recorded and not part of the live Oscars broadcast, which didn’t stop the dog from being one of the most talked-about dogs to become. stars of the night.
Some couldn’t resist talking about a clip that appears to show Ryan, 43, breaking into a huge grin at the sight of the dog sitting in his own chair during the ceremony, looking incredibly dapper in a bow tie.
Adding to seven-year-old Messi’s rising profile was a mention by host Jimmy Kimmel in his opening monologue, with the comedian joking that Messi “gave the performance of the year.”
“Messi, who, even though he’s a dog, may have given the performance of the year in Anatomy of a Fall,” Kimmel joked. ‘Messi has an overdose scene, if you’ve seen it, you know it. It’s unbelievable.
“To be honest, I haven’t seen a French actor eat his own vomit like that since Gérard Depardieu.”
Messi’s presence at the ceremony came as a surprise to fans – after just days before the awards ceremony it was reported that the France-based dog would not travel to Los Angeles for the Oscars, despite having already built a reputation for himself as one of the most successful of this season. beloved guests.
Speak with The Hollywood Reporteran Anatomy of a Fall source claimed that Border Collie Messi would not travel from his native France to California for the awards ceremony.
Oscars viewers went wild over the pup’s performance in the Oscars broadcast
Many also shouted out Ryan’s sweet reaction to the adorable pooch
But as the ceremony began, Messi was seen making his way to a reserved seat next to his trainer and owner Laura Martin, who sat next to the pup during the awards ceremony.
Needless to say, his surprise presence quickly caught the attention of viewers at home, with many taking to social media to express their joy at seeing the pup – and also raved about Ryan’s reaction to him.
‘Messi got robbed for supporting actor!’ one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“This is so cute,” said another, as one wrote: “He’s in the spotlight.”
“Messi the dog wins Best Boi at the Oscars,” cheered an excited fan.
Some focused more on Ryan’s reaction to the pup, sharing a short clip of the Barbie star smiling happily as they saw the dog sitting with his trainer and owner.
“Ryan Gosling’s face lights up when he sees Messi, the dog clapping at the Oscars,” one person wrote.
‘Ryan Gosling laughs when he sees Messi clapping. I’m not okay!’ another shared.
Earlier this year, Messi’s trainer Laura opened up about his sudden fame, explaining that attention for her pup started in Cannes but quickly skyrocketed in the US.
In Anatomy of a Fall, Messi plays a guide dog named Snoop, owned by the blind character Daniel, played by actor Milo Machado-Graner
Earlier this year, Messi’s trainer Laura (left) opened up about his sudden fame, explaining that attention for her pup started in Cannes but quickly skyrocketed in the US.
Messi’s role requires him to play dead for several minutes, a feat that his coach Laura admitted was no small feat
“All this attention started in Cannes,” she told The Hollywood Reporter.
“There were a few interviews in France, but what we experienced here in America – with the focus on this dog and his acting – exceeded anything we expected. It’s probably the most you can achieve in this area.’
In Anatomy of a Fall, Messi plays a guide dog named Snoop, owned by the blind character Daniel, played by actor Milo Machado-Graner.
Messi’s role requires him to play dead for several minutes, a feat that his coach Laura admitted was no small feat, as he explained to IndieWire that the pup had undergone rigorous preparation for the role.
“Even the simplest things take a lot of work,” she said. ‘It had to be done in steps. First, the simple act of lying down and keeping his head still. (I) started there and then (we worked on) lifting the head and just letting it fall back without resistance.”
After proving his acting chops in the five-time Oscar nominated film, Messi earned a place among some of this year’s biggest stars when he was invited to the annual nominees luncheon in Los Angeles. A-list stars.
“The big moment was with Billie Eilish, who bonded with Messi for almost 10 minutes,” coach Laura told The Hollywood Reporter.
‘They were cuddling and petting and there was a real atmosphere. Then Bradley Cooper ran into him in the hallway. The dog went straight to him, so they had a connection too.”
At the same event, Ryan was again filmed having a heartwarming interaction with the pup, placing his hand on his chest in emotion as he was introduced to Messi for the first time.
Although Messi was not nominated for an Oscar, much to the chagrin of his biggest fans, he walked away from this year’s Cannes Film Festival with an unofficial trophy: the Palm Dog.