Two-time Academy-award-winner Emma Stone arguably stole the show at last night's SNL50 anniversary, as she stepped out in a floor-length dress stuffed to the brim with popcorn. But it appears the gown may have had a deeper meaning beyond being a fun gimmick that many fans missed. The Hollywood actress shocked and delighted fans as she strutted the carpet with the hips of her red Louis Vuitton gown filled with deep pockets stuffed with the soft white kernels. To add to the look, she even held a stripy red popcorn bucket, which she was seen munching on throughout the night.
Under a viral X post, fans praised the actress for her fearless outfit choice. One wrote: “Emma Stone out here proving she’s an icon—snacks on deck, fashion on point. That’s not a dress, that’s a walking concession stand!” Others claimed it made them fall even more in love with her. “She's so silly, love her,” one account wrote. Others were fixated on the rare sight of a woman’s dress featuring practical pockets: “Gotta respect the girl’s pocket game. She has the money to have a dress designed to hold all that popcorn because she can.”.
But, despite the positive reactions, it seems the joke went over a lot of people's heads. In actuality, the dress was serving more than an easy-to-reach-snack. It was likely a tongue-in-cheek reference to the label of ‘popcorn actress’ – a dismissive term commonly used to refer to actresses that star in popular movies but that aren’t critically acclaimed. The insidious implication is that they land major roles thanks to their looks without having the talent to back it up.
Most recently, Demi Moore revealed at her 2025 Oscar acceptance speech for her role in The Substance that a producer had referred to her as a “popcorn actress” 30 years ago. The 62-year-old star went on to explain that it shook her confidence in her craft, leading her to believe she was undeserving of serious acknowledgement. As an actress that has received sixteen awards, including Oscars, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes, Emma was well-poised to drive the point that actresses can be both glamorous and accomplished.
Although, there were some critiques over the actress’ ironic look. Under a clip of Emma at the event, some TikTok users couldn’t help but notice the amount of popcorn spilling from her giant pockets. “Someone should be following her with a vacuum,” one comment under the Vogue clip said. Another wrote, “Love her, but hope she thanks who ever had to pick that up for her”. Celeb obsessed? Get a daily dose of showbiz gossip direct to your inbox.
