It’s the stuff of Hollywood anxiety dreams: mispronouncing someone’s name on stage at the Oscars. And last year John Travolta embarrassed himself by doing just that, introducing Frozen singer Idina Menzel as “Adele Dazeem”, to much subsequent online amusement.
But all is forgiven, as Travolta has been invited back to present an award at this year’s ceremony. He joins an ever-increasing line-up of stars tasked with handing out statuettes, including Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, David Oyelowo, Sienna Miller, Chris Pratt, Octavia Spencer and more.
Presenting for the first time is Neil Patrick Harris, known for his quick wit and extravagant set pieces when presenting the Tony awards.
Speaking to the New York Times, he said: “I’ll admit that I’m nervous to host, but it’s much less pressure than being a nominee, having to go down a red carpet filled with prognosticators saying, ‘I think it’s your night! I can smell it!’”
Anna Kendrick is meanwhile set to perform a special musical number.
Following last year’s gaffe, a mortified Travolta managed to stay light-hearted, saying in a statement: “I’ve been beating myself up all day. Then I thought, ‘What would Idina Menzel say?’ She’d say, ‘Let it go, let it go!”, referring to the hit musical number Menzel sings in Frozen.
There’s already been one embarrassing pronunciation error so far in the 2015 Oscars campaign — Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs referred to cinematographer Dick Pope as “Dick Poop” during the nominations announcement.
