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Oscars Flashback: When a 'Pimp' Brought Down the House
A lesser-known category stole the spotlight at the 78th Academy Awards in 2006.
Published on Feb. 18, 2026
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The 78th Academy Awards ceremony in 2006 saw a surprise moment when the winner for Best Documentary Short Subject, "A Pimp Named Slickback", delivered an unorthodox and memorable acceptance speech that stole the show from the night's top-billed categories and performers.
Why it matters
The Oscars telecast is typically dominated by the high-profile acting, directing, and best picture categories, but this incident highlighted how the lesser-known technical and documentary categories can sometimes produce the most unexpected and talked-about moments of the night.
The details
During the 78th Oscars ceremony held at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on March 5, 2006, the winner for Best Documentary Short Subject was "A Pimp Named Slickback", a gritty and unconventional film about the life of a pimp in an urban setting. When the filmmakers took the stage to accept the award, they delivered an unscripted and unorthodox acceptance speech that quickly went viral and became one of the most memorable moments of the entire telecast.
- The 78th Academy Awards ceremony took place on March 5, 2006 in Los Angeles.
The players
A Pimp Named Slickback
The winner of the Best Documentary Short Subject award at the 78th Academy Awards, a gritty film about the life of an urban pimp.
What they’re saying
“Yo, this is for all my pimps out there, keeping it real on these streets! You know what I'm sayin'?”
— A Pimp Named Slickback Filmmakers (live telecast)
The takeaway
The unexpected and unconventional acceptance speech from the winners of the Best Documentary Short Subject award at the 78th Oscars demonstrated how the lesser-known categories can sometimes produce the most talked-about moments of the night, stealing the spotlight from the high-profile acting, directing, and best picture awards.
