Kirsten Dunst Defended After Throwing Shade Over Husband Jesse Plemons' Oscar Snub: 'She Has Earned That Right'

Kirsten Dunst can do no wrong when it comes to speaking out about her husband, Jesse Plemons, not receiving accolades for his work. 

Following the release of the Oscar nominations last week, Plemons' name was notably absent from the Best Actor category, which featured nominees including Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, and Wagner Moura.

The omission did not sit well with Dunst, who appeared to take subtle jabs in response. However, fans say her reaction is well-earned. 

Over the weekend, Dunst made it clear she was unhappy with the Academy overlooking Plemons for his performance in “Bugonia.”

“The Beguiled” actress took to Instagram stories, posting a picture of Plemon’s costar, Stavros Halkias, that showed him with an angry face and a hand pointing a gun at the camera. 

Dunst captioned the post, "Me to everyone who didn't nominate Jesse Plemmons [sic] for Best Actor tho." The “Jumanji” actress followed it up with a clip from Ev Duran's “Bluff Council” Podcast where he praised Plemons’ role in the movie while comparing it to Chalamet’s role, according to Entertainment Weekly.

"Jesse Plemons gives one of the greatest performances of all time," Duran praised. "Jesse Plemons in this film gives [a] Daniel Day-Lewis-, Sidney Poitier-level transcendent performance that I worry is being completely overlooked for f---in' Chalamet's Marty Supreme, which was a very good performance, but wasn't - what Plemons does in this movie is beyond."

Dunst's post quickly drew support from many fans backing her decision to speak out on behalf of her husband.

This X user noted that Dunst has been in Hollywood since childhood, consistently delivering standout performances, and can rightfully speak up.

“If she wants to throw LIGHT shade every now and then, she has earned that right,” the fan added. 

Another user weighed Dunst's career against Chalamet's, writing, “Kirsten Dunst has a way better filmography than Timothée and is literally a Palme d'Or winner; she is one of the greats. That boy has a long way to go!” 

A third person questioned, “Kirsten Dunst can't repost a story about her husband being snubbed, but Timmy can spend the entire Marty Supreme press tour crying about how he doesn't have an Oscar yet?”

While a fourth individual remarked that they “stand with Dunst” regardless of what she's posted, another added, “No one is allowed to hate on the queen.”

One fan agreed that Dunst “can say whatever she wants. She's earned that right many times over.”

Dunst's support for Plemons reflects the admiration he has often expressed for her insight and creativity.

While celebrating their first wedding anniversary in 2023, the “Breaking Bad” star praised his wife's sincerity and taste. 

"We connected first creatively and as friends, and I really enjoy her instincts and her opinions," he said, per The Blast. "She has great taste, and she's sincere, which I appreciate."

Plemons has also admitted he was unsure how marriage would change things. However, it turned out to be a positive and grounding experience.

While Dunst and Plemons’ marriage blossoms, they faced a frightening health scare with their youngest son, James, last year, while she was shooting a new film in Budapest.

According to People Magazine, Dunst shared that her family had joined her abroad in a rented house. However, when James fell ill, they made the difficult decision to return to Los Angeles, leaving her alone in Budapest. 

The “Little Women” actress described the emotional pain from the experience, likening it to the feeling of the film “Final Destination,” explaining that her mind spiraled with worst-case scenarios about her child.

Despite the emotional turmoil, the ordeal reaffirmed to Dunst that she had chosen the right partner in Plemons as she noted the experience brought them “ together as a family in a deeper way.”

Dunst’s reaction to her husband’s Oscar snub is not the first time she has spoken up against injustices in the industry.  

Per The Blast, Dunst previously opened up about how pay inequality has been a recurring issue throughout her career. She pointed specifically to her experience on the 2002 "Spider-Man" film, revealing that her co-star Tobey Maguire earned millions more than she did.

Dunst noted that despite her success in “Bring It On,” which was released in 2000 and grossed over $90.5 million at the box office, she still received a significantly smaller paycheck.

Reflecting on the situation, Dunst admitted she never thought to negotiate at the time.