A video has emerged online that has got pop culture fans talking. It features a moment involving Academy Award-winning actress, producer, and children’s author Jamie Lee Curtis, and actor and comedian Jon Lovitz.
The 30-second clip features footage from the 1995 American Comedy Awards, when Jamie Lee Curtis won the award for Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) for her performance in “True Lies.”
Curtis, now 67, fended off competition from a plethora of superstars to win the gong. The other actresses in the category were Jodie Foster for “Maverick,” Shirley MacLaine for “Guarding Tess,” Whoopi Goldberg for “Corrina, Corrina,” Emma Thompson for “Junior,” Madeline Kahn for “Mixed Nuts,” and Uma Thurman for “Pulp Fiction.”
Lovitz, now 68, presented Curtis with her award — and it was during her acceptance speech that the boundary-pushing moment occurred.
Jon Lovitz Grabbed Jamie Lee Curtis’ Chest
During Jamie Lee Curtis’ acceptance speech, the star commented that the award she’d been handed was “so big” and “so heavy,” at which point Jon Lovitz reached over and put his hand on her chest (which, it should be noted, had garnered some attention for one particular scene in “True Lies”).
The move saw the audience — which included Curtis’ actor father Tony Curtis — erupting in fits of laughter. At that point, Lovitz commented “I just had to.”
Curtis then reached over to Lovitz and grabbed his crotch, causing further hilarity in the crowd, with her father on his feet applauding.
The caption on the video featuring the footage begins, “Comedy Awards Showdown 😅.”
It then continues, “At the 1995 American Comedy Awards, Jamie Lee Curtis delivered sharp remarks while Jon Lovitz was in attendance, creating a playful yet tense exchange. The moment quickly became memorable as the audience reacted to the unexpected back and forth unfolding live on stage. What made the scene stand out was Curtis’s confident delivery and Lovitz’s visible reaction. Award shows are usually polished and predictable, but this interaction felt spontaneous and real. The brief clash captured the unpredictable energy of live television and remains a standout comedy awards moment.”
It’s the kind of moment that simply wouldn’t fly today. The difference between what is regarded as acceptable entertainment in the 31 years that have passed since 1995 is huge.
One reply to the video stated, “The world would explode if this happened today 😂😂.”
Someone else said, “She always seemed cool and down to earth . But this is AWESOME !! 😂”
The Bit Was Entirely Rehearsed
GettyThe interaction between Jamie Lee Curtis and Jon Lovitz created some controversy, even in the 1990s. Despite the positive audience reaction, Lovitz receive quite the backlash for his part in it, given that he appeared to be the instigator. As it turns out, the moment was rehearsed and entirely consensual — and it wasn’t even Lovitz’s idea.
An archived UPI article says Curtis told USA Today, “It was my idea. They came to us beforehand and asked us to do funny things.”
The actress even added that Lovitz initially balked at her when she suggested the stunt, and added that she was completely unfazed by all the negative reaction to the stunt, saying, “I’m not embarrassed… I’m not going to apologize. I called Jon yesterday and said, ‘I’m sorry you’re taking the heat’.”
Curtis also said Lovitz performed the controversial maneuver “with great skill.” We’re not entirely sure that would have made up for some of the insults thrown at him following the incident.
Per IMDb, Curtis is set for a busy 2026. Having already appeared in Noah Segan’s crime thriller movie “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,” she’s set to appear in Russell Goodman’s psychological thriller film “Sender,” and the upcoming Amazon Prime Video serial drama “Scarpetta.”
