The 2026 Academy Awards nominations were announced on January 22, sparking widespread discussion, especially regarding the unexpected omission of Jesse Plemons from the Best Actor category. Despite delivering a highly praised performance in the film Bugonia, Plemons’s name was missing from the list of nominees, a decision that has drawn significant attention online. This development has spurred conversations about the fairness of the nominations within the film industry and among fans.
Who Made the Cut? Best Actor Nominees Announced
This year’s Best Actor contenders include Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent. These actors represent a diverse range of performances, but the absence of Jesse Plemons, who earned critical acclaim, has been notably felt.
Jesse Plemons’s Acclaimed Role in Bugonia
Plemons starred in Yorgos Lanthimos’s Bugonia, which garnered multiple Oscar nods including Best Picture, Best Original Score, and Best Adapted Screenplay. His performance was widely celebrated as one of the year’s best, and his co-star Emma Stone received a nomination for Best Actress. The film has been a significant presence during awards season, heightening the surprise over Plemons’s snub.
Public Outcry and Kirsten Dunst’s Vocal Support
After the snub, many fans and internet users voiced their frustration, with one of the most prominent supporters being Jesse Plemons’s wife, actress Kirsten Dunst, who married him in 2022. Kirsten shared several posts on her Instagram that highlighted the disappointment surrounding Jesse’s exclusion, bringing more attention to the conversation.
Kirsten Dunst Shares Comedic and Critical Responses
One post Kirsten reposted featured comedian and Bugonia star Stavros Halkias, looking stern with a photoshopped gun aimed at the viewer, accompanied by the caption,
“me to everyone who didn’t nominate Jesse Plemmons [sic] for best actor tho.”
This humorous yet pointed image expressed frustration over the perceived oversight in a striking way.
Film Podcast Praises Jesse’s Performance While Questioning Other Nominations
Kirsten also spotlighted a video from the film podcast The Bluff Council, where cohost Ev Durán praised Jesse’s work in Bugonia and questioned the merit of Timothée Chalamet’s nomination for Marty Supreme. Durán’s remarks emphasized Jesse’s skill and the nuanced delivery of his role.
“Jesse Plemons gives one of the greatest performances of all time,”
Ev stated.
“Jesse Plemons in this film gives Daniel Day-Lewis, Sidney Poitier, transcendent level performance that I worry is being completely overlooked for fucking Chalamet’s Marty Supreme, which was a very good performance, but wasn’t…what Plemons does in this movie is beyond.”
– Ev Durán, Podcast Cohost
“He so fully transforms into a different person, and plays every emotion so subtly and brilliantly, without ever, like, acting. I cannot heap enough praise on it,”
he added.
– Ev Durán, Podcast Cohost
Ev further explained,
I think the film should be beloved by everyone for that reason alone. If only,
underlining how remarkable Jesse’s work was in the film.
Mixed Reactions to Kirsten’s Social Media Stance
Kirsten Dunst’s sharing of the video has divided opinions online. Some viewers found her posts unsettling, feeling they unfairly criticized other nominees. One Instagram user questioned,
“does kirsten dunst realise she can support her husband without feeling the need to shade other people? the way she’s trying to undermine timmy’s performance in marty supreme is just very odd.”
Others echoed this sentiment, writing,
“It’s so disappointing of you @kirstendunst to share this video that put Timothée Chalamet down. Jesse is a tremendous actor; he deserved a nomination. Timothée deserves his nomination.”
Another comment noted that Timothée would likely face backlash if he posted similar critiques about fellow actors.
Community Support for Kirsten’s Advocacy
Conversely, many fans supported Kirsten’s defense of her husband, praising her enthusiasm and loyalty. A Reddit commenter said,
“Being your partner’s biggest hype person is the greenest flag,”
while another encouraged her to continue proudly speaking out, stating,
“She’s right and she should continue to say it.”
On Twitter, one fan declared, we support her! and another user wrote,
She really does not play about her husband!!
Some responses embraced a playful tone about Kirsten’s assertiveness, with one person saying,
“kiki dunst has earned the right to be a little playfully shady on instagram you will live.”
Another pointed out the double standard, commenting,
Kirsten Dunst can’t repost a story about her husband being snubbed but Timmy can spend the entire Marty Supreme press tour crying about how he doesn’t have an Oscar yet?
The Ongoing Conversation Surrounding Awards and Recognition
The debate around Jesse Plemons’s omission and Kirsten Dunst’s vocal reaction underscores the tension often present during awards season, where accomplishments are celebrated but also scrutinized. This situation highlights how personal relationships, fan loyalty, and industry politics intertwine in public discussions about accolades. As the Oscar ceremony approaches, these conversations may influence perceptions of fairness and recognition within Hollywood.
Jesse Plemmons not being nominated is absolutely criminal. Im beyond shocked.
byu/Huseynov26 inOscars
does kirsten dunst realise she can support her husband without feeling the need to shade other people? the way she's trying to undermine timmy's performance in marty supreme is just very odd. pic.twitter.com/nlzfeqAE9p
— ٍ (@chxlametcinema) January 24, 2026
i don't think that video was That serious but it is true that if timothée were to do something like this he'd be torn to shreds https://t.co/GhjC4byEhA
— alan b. (@inceptstellar) January 24, 2026
and we support her! https://t.co/R2ViwnCW6V pic.twitter.com/GFmgCmhhEK
— had (@aadidaas) January 23, 2026
She really does not play about her husband!! https://t.co/E4l98utxse
— sam (@cowboysamm) January 23, 2026
kiki dunst has earned the right to be a little playfully shady on instagram you will live
— dominique☼ (@saokodomi) January 24, 2026
Kirsten Dunst can’t repost a story about her husband being snubbed but Timmy can spend the entire Marty Supreme press tour crying about how he doesn’t have an Oscar yet?
— mar (@onlytheblye) January 24, 2026
Poor Oscars campaigns, from Bradley Cooper to Timothee Chalamet, it turns out they have the same personal PR team!
byu/CateBlanchetFrmShein inOscars
