2025 Tony Awards: Best and worst moments

The Annual Tony Awards returned for 2025, uniting some of the world’s best actors and singers under the roof of Radio City Music Hall on June 8.

Led by theatre-trained and Oscar-nominated actress Cynthia Erivo, who owned the stage like she held the key to it, the show was nothing short of memorable.

However, there’s so much to talk about from the 2025 awards, from the Hamilton 10th anniversary reunion to Jonathan Groff giving an awkward pseudo lap dance to John Wick star Keanu Reeves, the best and worst moments were countless.

Here are some of the most notable best and worst moments from last night’s Tony Awards:

Cynthia Erivo and Oprah Winfrey Recreate Viral Gesture

The host of the evening ran into iconic producer and actress Oprah Winfrey, who gave her a backstage pep talk.

"What do you do when everyone is telling you what you need to do?" Erivo asked.

 Winfrey replied, "Forget about them, babe! The only thing you need to do is just be yourself."

The two icons smiled as Winfrey stuck out her right index finger and Erivo grasped it, recreating the viral gesture from Erivo and Ariana Grande's Wicked press tour last fall.

Kara Young Gets Interrupted Mid-Speech

Rising star Kara Young received her second consecutive Tony Award.

As Young accepted the trophy for Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Play and began her speech, the host’s voice unexpectedly cut in.

Erivo had joked earlier that anyone exceeding 90 seconds during their speech would be played off by her singing.

‘Hamilton’ 10th Anniversary Reunion

The most anticipated moment of the night was the Hamilton 10th anniversary reunion.

The cast rewound time with a mixtape performance of songs from the hit musical.

The show’s creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, along with Daveed Diggs, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, Christopher Jackson, Anthony Ramos, and others, were part of the performance.

Keanu Reeves Gets a Strip Show

Jonathan Groff gave a bold performance at the event, leading to an awkwardly funny moment with Keanu Reeves.

While singing a medley that included Mack the Knife, That’s All, and Once in a Lifetime, Groff surprised the crowd by jumping into the audience and straddling his Matrix Resurrections co-star, Keanu Reeves.

Groff delivered a pseudo lap dance, while Reeves—clearly amused—flashed rock ‘n’ roll hand signs.

Audra McDonald Sparks a Thunderous Standing Ovation

Broadway legend Audra McDonald brought the house down with a show-stopping performance of Rose's Return from Gypsy, earning one of the night’s loudest standing ovations.

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