How ‘unforgiving’ was the lighting at the Vanity Fair Oscar party? How the stars’ social media snaps compare to the red carpet after guests complained

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As a longtime fan of the Vanity Fair Oscars party, I was shocked to hear about what happened this year! Apparently, the red carpet event was thrown into disarray because the lighting was just…intense. People were saying it was ‘crazy bright’ and really threw things off. It sounds like it wasn’t the glamorous night everyone expected!

People watching said the VIP guests didn’t like the lighting, as it made their photos look bad. One actress was even reportedly upset to tears when she saw her picture.

‘I genuinely feel bad for some of these women,’ one guest said. 

One source described the experience as shockingly revealing, like seeing yourself in incredibly sharp detail. They explained it highlighted imperfections – extra weight and wrinkles – that were previously unnoticeable, and that it was an unflattering way to be photographed.

This year, Vanity Fair’s party switched locations from the Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), a change spearheaded by the magazine’s new editor, Mark Guiducci.

So was the lighting unforgiving or were the celebs just overreacting?

 

An actress was reportedly upset to tears after seeing photos of herself that were described as resembling the subjects in Diane Arbus’s often stark and unsettling portraits, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The Arbus comparison is particularly brutal given the photographer’s legacy of haunting imagery. 

She explored unusual subjects like circus artists and mythical giants, portraying them in a raw, unglamorous style that stood in contrast to the typical polish of Hollywood.

Okay, so everyone was totally obsessed with Guy Oseary and Madonna’s after-party, and honestly? I get it! All my favorite stars were posting pictures from there instead of even bothering with the official Vanity Fair carpet photos. It’s like, that’s where the real fun happened, and everyone knew it. I was glued to my phone all morning just waiting for more pics from their party – way more interesting than the red carpet, let me tell you!

The lighting at this year’s event was noticeably different from past celebrations, which had a warm, flattering glow. As one regular attendee put it, previous events felt magical, making everyone – even those who didn’t usually shine – feel their best.

One person who attended described the event as incredibly bright, saying it felt like being directly under powerful spotlights.

Another said that ‘It was like a hundred degrees’ and wondered if she was ‘having hot flashes.’

The event lost some of its sparkle when the classic red carpet was swapped for a light gray, fluffy one. Many people on social media criticized the new carpet, calling it dull and unappealing.

Guiducci apparently wanted to revive the party’s popularity, so he significantly narrowed down the list of invited guests.

According to a source, Mark was only interested in the biggest stars, and he likely reviewed his list of potential candidates repeatedly.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Vanity Fair and Guiducci for comment. 

This year the red carpet excluded B-listers like media reporters and TV stars.

One high-profile star that skipped the event was Emma Stone. 

Even though he received an invitation, Stone chose to attend the Universal Pictures party before going on to the A24 event.

She explained in a video posted on X that the Vanity Fair party isn’t open to everyone, even if you’re a nominee. She said it felt strange that a nomination doesn’t automatically grant you access.

Visitors to the newly opened LACMA space were meant to be the first to see the museum’s David Geffen Galleries.

Despite the efforts, the space wasn’t ready by the night of the Oscars, so the party had to be relocated to a simpler area of the museum.

Guests also mentioned issues with traffic and were unhappy with the hosts – popular social media personalities – who allegedly offended some important attendees.

Despite some initial concerns, not everyone thought the party was a failure. One attendee mentioned it was only the first event held at the new location and expressed their intention to return next year.

I was so excited to see who attended this year, and honestly, the guest list was incredible! Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet were there, along with Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, Jessica Alba, and Hailey Bieber – it was a star-studded event, to say the least!

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2026-03-19 17:49