Doja Cat performing at the 2025 Oscars. Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Doja Cat is clapping back at critics who slammed her performance at the 2025 Oscars.
The artist, 29, took to Instagram on Monday, March 3, and defended herself a day after performing “Diamonds Are Forever” during a James Bond medley.
“Thanks to the Academy Awards and Vanity Fair for having me,” Doja Cat captioned a photo of her in the curve-hugging, gold sequined Balmain gown that she’d worn to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party the night before. “I never get to sing like that and what I did was brave and scary as f— for me. I know a lot of people didn’t like it but a lot of people did and I feel good that I pushed myself. The song is a classic and I put a lot of work into it but the nerves got to me and a bitch hit some flats.”
She added, “I can’t wait to do something like that again. What a blessing that was. I feel amazing about the whole thing. Bye. 🙏💓.”
The rapper, singer and songwriter teamed up with Raye and Blackpink’s Lisa for the Bond tribute that took place toward the midpoint of Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony. After Margaret Qualley appeared in a dance number, Lisa, 27, performed a rendition of “Live and Let Die” from the 1973 Bond movie of the same name. Afterward, Doja Cat sang “Diamonds Are Forever” — originally sung by Shirley Bassey in 1971 — while wearing a jeweled dress befitting a Bond girl. Then Raye, 27, crooned “Skyfall,” the theme song of the 2012 movie.
Watching the tribute unfold, many viewers criticized Doja Cat, airing their grievances via X.
“Shirley Bassey deserves an apology on so many levels. Why was this approved,” one user complained, while another wrote, “That’s a really tough song to replicate and I don’t think she was the correct artist for this one.”
Despite the negative reactions, Doja Cat’s fans came to her defense.
“She was frickin’ great!” a fan gushed via X. “The entire Bond medley was powerful and awesome.”
Doja Cat, Lisa and Raye recently released their collaboration “Born Again,” but the official Oscars X account noted ahead of the telecast that the trio wouldn’t be singing that song.
“Not ‘Born Again!’ But still legendary. Stay tuned. 😉,” read a message posted in late February.
The announcement of the group’s performance surprised Oscar aficionados, as neither of the women had a connection to any of the movies up for awards this year. In 2022, Doja Cat contributed the song “Vegas” to the soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, which starred Austin Butler as the titular rock icon. The film was nominated for eight awards at the 2023 Oscars but came away empty-handed.
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