Michael Douglas had his fellow chat show guests in stitches after throwing some cheeky shade at Cher’s Oscar-winning Moonstruck performance on The Graham Norton Show.
The Hollywood veteran appeared on the talk show over the weekend to promote his new memoir, sharing the couch with actors Kieran Culkin, Naomi Ackie and Glenn Close, the last of whom he starred opposite in 1987’s Fatal Attraction.
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During the interview, Close discussed the news that she will receive an honorary Academy Award after landing eight nominations, including for Fatal Attraction, but failing to nab a win, which prompted Douglas to take a swipe at Cher.
The musician and actress beat Close in the 1988 Best Actress category for her role in Moonstruck, an outcome which Douglas described as “shocking”.
“[Close] should have won for Fatal Attraction. Cher won that year,” Douglas told Norton.
After the host expressed shock over the win with a surprised “wow”, Douglas quipped, “I know, that’s what we all thought”.
The actor’s playful jab garnered laughter from the audience and from Culkin and Ackie, who were seen covering their faces as they were reduced to hysterical laughter over the joke.
“The shade! The shade!” Ackie said, as Culkin shielded his smile with his hand.
Douglas quickly explained how Close “gave one of the best performances of all time” for her role as crazed mistress Alex Forrest in the classic thriller.
“I have nothing against Cher, but it was a shocking situation,” Douglas said.
“Glenn is to get an honorary Oscar, as she has been nominated eight times. It was amazing to work with her on Fatal Attraction,” he added.
Cher pulled off a tough feat with her 1988 Oscar win, beating out nominees Close, Meryl Streep, Holly Hunter and Sally Kirkland for her portrayal of Brooklyn bookkeeper Loretta Castorini in Moonstruck.
Close, meanwhile, has been unable to land an Oscar despite critically acclaimed roles and nominations for films like Dangerous Liaisons, Albert Nobbs and The Wife.
The Academy will give Close – as well as Alien director Ridley Scott and Disney animator Floyd Norman – an honorary Oscar later this month, ahead of the 99th edition of the awards show in March, 2027.
“They vote to give honorary Oscars, and they probably don’t want to feel guilty anymore,” Close joked of her unfortunate Oscar losing streak on The Graham Norton Show.