2. Marisa Tomei Wasn't Meant To Win An Oscar
The Rumour: Regardless of what she has gone on to achieve more recently, in 1993, Marisa Tomei was the darkest of dark horses in the run for the best supporting actress Oscar, and her unlikely win has gone down as one of the most controversial in Oscar history. Naturally, since Tomei was a brand new talent and her film wasn't exactly Citizen Kane, rumours quickly spread that presenter Jack Palance had read the wrong name out - thanks to drink or drugs or confusion - and had awarded it to Tomei instead of "true" winner Vanessa Redgrave. Understandably, Tomei was pretty narked by the suggestion.
The Truth: Believe it or not, sometimes the Academy just gives undeserving people an Oscar intentionally, regardless of how the general public feels. Besides, there's a protocol for a presenter announcing the wrong name, so it wouldn't be possible simply to announce the wrong name Anyway, in some communities My Cousin Vinny is a bona fide classic.