At the 97th Academy Awards, Doja Cat, along with her “Born Again” collaborators Lisa and Raye, delivered a medley of iconic songs from the James Bond franchise. The performance was a tribute to the legendary 007 series but did not receive widespread praise from many viewers online.
On Instagram, Doja Cat responded to the backlash, saying, “I had the chance to dance with Sarah Paulson last night, and Flow is my all-time favorite movie because it celebrates friendship. Thank you to the Academy and Vanity Fair for this opportunity. Singing like that was a new experience for me, and it was both thrilling and intimidating.” She continued, “I’m aware that it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but some did enjoy it, and I’m proud of myself for pushing my limits. The song is a timeless classic, and though nerves got the best of me and I missed a few notes, I worked hard. I’m eager to do something like that again. It was a blessing, and I feel good about it. Goodbye.”
The tribute performance began with a dance segment by Margaret Qualley, dressed in a satin red gown, paying homage to the Bond girls from previous films. Lisa followed with a rendition of Paul McCartney and Wings’ “Live and Let Die,” while Doja Cat took the stage for Shirley Bassey’s “Diamonds Are Forever.” Raye concluded the medley with Adele’s “Skyfall.”
In a separate post, Raye admitted feeling nervous about performing Adele’s iconic song, acknowledging how hard it is to capture Adele’s essence but giving her all in the performance. Lisa, who is also starring in The White Lotus Season 3, expressed her joy at reuniting with her “Born Again” sisters for the special occasion.
The 2025 Oscars took place on Sunday night at the Dolby Theatre.
