John Travolta Blows Chance at Oscars Redemption

Kevin Polowy, Senior Editor

John Travolta’s infamous butchering of Idina Menzel’s name during last year’s Oscars telecast was one of the show’s most talked-about moments. The actor was brought back for what appeared to be a clear shot at redemption this year and, well, it turned out far more creepy than cute.

Host Neil Patrick Harris – moments after taking a funny crack at theGrease alum (referring to Benedict Cumberbatch as “the sound you get when you ask John Travolta to pronounce Ben Affleck”) – brought out the Frozen songstress Menzel to announce the Best Original Song winner. And then Menzel brought out Travolta, by mangling his name, of course, calling him “Glom Gazino” (or something to that effect).

It was a callback that seemed well-intentioned, until things quickly got awkward. Travolta immediately wrapped his arm tightly around Menzel’s waist, then turned to her, grabbed her chin, and close-talked: “I deserved that, but you, you my darling, my beautiful, my wickedly talented Indina Menzel.” Basically he canoodled her like a grandmother would a toddler; only stopping short of squeezing her cheeks. Menzel laughed politely as Travolta held on to her chin for a few more seconds before lowering his hand back onto her waist.

It was the second time of the night Travolta was accused of getting a little too touchy-feely with a woman. He was snapped on the red carpet wrapping his hands around his A Love Song For Bobby Longco-star Scarlett Johansson while delivering what appeared to be an unsolicited smooch on her cheek in an apparent photobomb.

As far as that redemption… there’s always next year.

Photo: Us Weekly

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