Though the bit was planned, Glenn Close revealed in an Instagram post on Monday (Apr. 26) that her decision to twerk it out to E.U.’s signature hit “Da Butt” at Sunday night’s Oscars was “completely spontaneous.” Close was the talk of the Academy Awards after the eight-time nominee appeared to have ridiculously deep knowledge about the beloved D.C. go-go classic during a trivia sketch with actor Lil Rel Howery and house band leader Questlove.
“We had the MOST FUN at our table at the Oscars last night. Chris Terrio, one of my best friends, who won an Oscar for the screenplay of Argo, was my gallant escort,” Close, 74, said of her table mates. “Daniel Kaluuya and Darrell Britt-Gibson were wonderful table mates. I knew that Lil Rel was going to quiz me about Da Butt and all three guys helped me run through what I was to say.”
She said Britt-Gibson insisted that she mention another D.C. go-go favorite, the Backyard Band, as well as E.U. and its leader, Sugar Bear and the whole DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area. “I had googled ‘Da Butt’ and watched Spike’s music video so when Lil Rel asked if I could do the dance…you can actually see me think of the video. That part was completely spontaneous. Daniel, Darrell and Chris egged me on!!! It was ALL their fault,” she said.
Lee, who featured “Da Butt” in his 1988 movie School Daze, had high praise for Close. “Shoutout To My Sista @GlennClose For Showing Love To SCHOOL DAZE, Shouting Out D.C.’s Own E.U. And Myself And Doing DA BUTT At The Oscars Last Night. P.S. “Tonya Got A Big Ol’ Butt Oh Yeah!” the legendary director wrote in an Instagram post that included a clip of Close’s rump shaking.
He wasn’t the only one. E.U. leader bassist Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliot told Billboard that he was “blown away” when he saw the dance,” referring to the surprise bit as a “lottery ticket” for his long-running band. “I had butterflies all throughout my body. I was overwhelmed,” he said. “I started thanking God, like, ‘Wow, this is large.’”
