No one at the 2015 Academy Awards had a more interesting night than John Travolta.
Everyone's favorite singing, dancing, cross-dressing, villain-playing Scientologist turned the Oscars into a happy kiddie playground where he played stalker.
There was inappropriateness galore, as every time he appeared in front of a camera, he was doing something that made the whole world cringe in unison. Stuff like this moment with Scarlett Johansson, which kicked off his rounds.
Her facial expression is my new fairy godmother. pic.twitter.com/Ev6nKg1jIu
— Steph Guthrie (@amirightfolks) February 23, 2015
Twitter, hysterical knee-jerk circus that it is, reacted in an entirely appropriate manner.
John Travolta there once again proving that Scientologists are just super normal and nice to be around — FKA Joe (@goulcher) February 23, 2015
“@foxesinfiction: pic.twitter.com/i51DfQX5G6” Scarlett Johansson & John Travolta
— Rory Horne (@rorhor) February 23, 2015
Obviously, not getting off to a good start. Plus, he was wearing a really unfortunate accessory.
High school weed kingpin chic. RT @MeakinArmstrong: Travolta also laid down the gauntlet on metal chokers for men. pic.twitter.com/G2oWgBOp1Q
— Jason Diamond (@imjasondiamond) February 23, 2015
But Mr. Saturday Night Fever was just getting warmed up. When next he was spotted, the Oscars were well underway and he was in his seat, right behind Benedict Cumberbatch. When the camera lingered momentarily on Cumberbatch, sharp-eyed viewers caught a glimpse of Travolta eying him from behind with a rather sinister expression.
Travolta has that are you walking to your car alone look in his eyes #Oscars2015 pic.twitter.com/fcg8UTHUJJ — Michelle Pimm (@stylewriteratx) February 23, 2015
Benedict you better watch your back hahaha #JohnTravolta #Oscars2015 pic.twitter.com/4w3jZt3gWk — jessica (@jessica__aa) February 23, 2015
Travolta's biggest can't-stop-looking-but-make-it-stop moment was yet to come. As the Oscar telecast was entering what had to be its fourteenth hour or so, "Adele Dazeem" herself, Idini Menzel, took the stage as a presenter. Her first order of business was to introduce her "dear friend" John Travolta, who was set to join her for a pre-planned bit that was meant to poke fun at Travolta's gaffe from last year. Clearly relishing the moment, Menzel introduced Travolta as "Glom Gazingo."
He strutted up to the podium, smiling. He gave Menzel a sweet hug and replied with a self-effacing "I deserved that." And that's where he should have left it. He effectively disarmed all those Adele Dazeem memes he caused last year, while proving he had a great sense of humor about the whole thing. It was a golden opportunity.
And he royally blew it with what happened next. Dude had one job: pronounce Idina Menzel's name correctly, proving that he could in fact say it. He succeeded at that — but only after he grabbed her by the chin, pulled her in way too close, and held her captive there in front of millions of people for the ten most excruciating seconds of the entire show.
John Travolta says hi pic.twitter.com/Bj11mSb3cL — Omar L. Gallaga (@omarg) February 23, 2015
Even when Menzel turned to the audience to gather applause for his pronunciation skills, still he wouldn't let go of her face.
So how many presenters are filing restraining orders against Travolta right now? — Wil Wheaton (@wilw) February 23, 2015
If he was trying to redeem himself for last year, he crashed and burned. If his intention was to top "Adele Dazeem," he totally nailed it. Maybe he was trying to project himself as a super-cool stud, but the 61-year-old instead came across as that creepy uncle you avoid making eye contact with at family reunions. Yikes.
Congrats John Travolta... You single handidly creeped out the #Oscars2015 pic.twitter.com/GbD1ivA1xz — Tim Williams (@realtimwilliams) February 23, 2015