The security firm that employed a guard accused of shoving Teyana Taylor at the Oscars claimed the contact was “incidental” ― but his conduct did not meet the company’s “standard of professionalism.”
Taylor, the Oscar-nominated star of Best Picture winner “One Battle After Another,” was seen on viral video scolding the guard for putting his hands on her after the ceremony.
Taylor called out the security staffer for putting his “hands on a female” and repeatedly said, “You’re very rude” as she pointed at him.
“He literally shoved me,” she said to others in the crowd.
A HuffPost source with knowledge of the events confirmed a report that the security guard tried to block Taylor from returning to the stage for a victory photo with the cast. He attempted to push her away and at one point even asked her to apologize.
Security Industry Specialists, which was hired by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the event, gave a tamped-down account of what happened.
“There was a brief interaction involving Ms. Taylor and a member of our security team during the show last evening,” the statement to Variety began. “Our security personnel were working to manage a crowded area and ensure the safety of all guests. During that interaction, there was incidental contact and we regret that the situation escalated. This is not the standard of professionalism we expect from our team, and we have addressed the matter internally to help ensure situations like this do not happen again.”
Later that night, Taylor told TMZ, “Security was just doing a lot. … There’s always that one.”
“I just don’t tolerate disrespect, especially when it’s unwarranted and unprovoked,” she said.
Teyana Taylor, pictured center with her arm thrust in the air as she celebrates the success of “One Battle After Another,” said the shoving incident was “unwarranted and unprovoked.”
The academy said the security staffer’s conduct was “not acceptable.”
“We were extremely upset to learn about the experience endured by Teyana Taylor at the end of the Oscars ceremony last night,” the academy said in a statement published by Deadline. “We have worked with Teyana over the last several months during awards season, and she has been nothing short of remarkable, supportive, kind, and all about community. ”
“Though the incident was with our outside security firm SIS, the experience of every single guest is our responsibility,” the statement continued. “We have made it clear to them that this behavior is not acceptable. We want to thank Teyana for showing remarkable grace, and we are taking the appropriate measures to ensure this does not happen again.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said it was “extremely upset” over the way Taylor was treated in the tense encounter.
Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images
