A very awkward Keanu Reeves went viral after he was straddled by a Broadway icon during a ‘sensual’ Tony Awards 2025 performance on Sunday.
The Speed star, 60, was sat unsuspecting in his chair at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall when Jonathan Groff performed a high-octane rendition of Mack The Knife from his Bobby Darin musical, Just In Time.
However, Groff – who starred with Reeves in 2021 flop The Matrix Resurrections – then leapt onto Reeves’ chair with his legs either side of the shocked star’s face as he sang.
A stunned Reeves screamed and gazed up between Groff’s legs – before doing a rock on sign, as a cheeky Groff grabbed his chest – before jumping off the chair.
Fans took to social media to laud the shock moment, with one fan writing: ‘Jonathan Groff climbing over Keanu Reeves in the audience and then straddling him while performing at the Tonys omg lol.
Others wrote: ‘Keanu Reeves already won the Tonys with this moment.
A very awkward Keanu Reeves went viral after he was straddled by a Broadway icon during a ‘sensual’ Tony Awards 2025 performance on Sunday
The Speed star, 60, was set unsuspecting in his chair at New York City ‘s Radio City Music Hall when Jonathan Groff performed a high-octane rendition of Mack The Knife – and jumped on him
During his Just In Time medley, Groff (pictured) leapt at Reeves, with wild fans calling the incident ‘sensual’
‘Watching Jonathan Groff sensually live on the side of Keanu Reeves’ face on live television might have been my Roman Empire.
‘Jonathan Groff said he was going to shoot his shot with Keanu Reeves and I respect that.
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Nicole Scherzinger, Ariana DeBose, Brooke Shields and Lea Michele lead red carpet at the Tony Awards
‘Jonathan Groff flirting with and singing to Keanu Reeves wasn’t something I had on my Tonys bingo card but I’m here for it.’
Other humorous moments occurred during the awards ceremony, such as Oprah Winfrey and host Cynthia Erivo taking part in a Wicked skit.
Erivo had just kicked off her major role as emcee for the night, and was suddenly joined by Winfrey as she made her way from backstage to the main stage.
The pair then recreated the finger-holding moment between Erivo and her co-star Ariana Grande as they promoted Wicked.
However, some viewers labeled Winfrey’s brief cameo ‘unnecessary’ with one penning on X: ‘Oprah had to ruin the moment. Of course she had to put herself in the beginning #TonyAwards.’
Another wrote, ‘Oprah was unnecessary #TonyAwards,’ while one added, ‘Why does Oprah have to be in everything?’
Other humorous moments occurred during the awards ceremony, such as Oprah Winfrey and host Cynthia Erivo taking part in a Wicked skit
The pair then recreated the finger-holding moment between Erivo and her co-star Ariana Grande as they promoted Wicked
However, some viewers labeled Winfrey’s brief cameo ‘unnecessary’ with one penning on X: ‘Oprah had to ruin the moment. Of course she had to put herself in the beginning #TonyAwards’; Erivo and Grande seen in March in Hollywood
The original cast of the musical Hamilton also reunited on the Tonys stage to celebrate the 10th anniversary
Tony Awards 2025 winners: AT A GLANCE
MUSICAL CATEGORIES
A sobbing Nicole Scherzinger won the Best Leading Actress in a Musical award, for her performance in Sunset Boulevard
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Nicole Scherzinger — Sunset Blvd.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: Darren Criss — Maybe Happy Ending
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: Natalie Venetia Belcon — Buena Vista Social Club
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: Jak Malone — Operation Mincemeat
Best Musical: Maybe Happy Ending
Best Revival of a Musical: Sunset Blvd.
Best Direction of a Musical: Michael Arden — Maybe Happy Ending
PLAY CATEGORIES
Cole Escola won for Oh, Mary!, triumphing over George Clooney
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Sarah Snook — The Picture Of Dorian Gray
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: Cole Escola — Oh, Mary!
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Kara Young — Purpose
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: Francis Jue — Yellow Face
Best Play: Purpose — Author: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Best Revival of a Play: Eureka Day — Author: Jonathan Spector
Best Direction of a Play: Sam Pinkleton — Oh, Mary!
The original cast of the musical Hamilton also reunited on the Tonys stage to celebrate the show’s 10th anniversary.
Jonathan Groff performed once again as he took on the role of King George III – and joined other fellow cast members such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo and Jasmine Cephas Jones.
A medley of songs from the production were performed, including Non-Stop, My Shot and The Schuyler Sisters.
Following the reunion, the live audience erupted into a standing ovation inside the venue.
Hamilton first premiered off-Broadway in 2015 and notably broke the record with the most Tony nominations at the time. The musical garnered 16 nods and won 11 at the 70th Annual Tony Awards.
Sarah Paulson and Jean Smart suffered a lighthearted mishap as they presented the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play.
However at one point as they addressed the crowd, Sarah’s dress bumped their microphone. The actress wore an ensemble with a black velvet bodice and full skirt with dramatic shoulders.
‘It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s a man-eating dress,’ Paulson said as she humorously brushed aside the moment.
Smart then cut in to add, ‘You stole my joke,’ with the Sarah quickly replying with, ‘I did steal your joke.’
Jonathan Groff performed once again as he took on the role of King George III – and joined other fellow cast members such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo and Jasmine Cephas Jones
Hamilton first premiered off-Broadway in 2015 and notably broke the record with the most Tony nominations. The musical garnered 16 nods and won 11 at the 70th Annual Tony Awards
Sarah Paulson and Jean Smart suffered a lighthearted mishap as they presented the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
‘It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s a man-eating dress,’ Paulson said as she humorously brushed aside the moment
Smart then cut in to add, ‘You stole my joke,’ with the Sarah quickly replying with, ‘I did steal your joke’
The glitzy night saw a sobbing Nicole Scherzinger accept her first ever Broadway honor.
The Pussycat Dolls singer, 46, won the Best Leading Actress in a Musical award, for her performance of fading Hollywood star Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, based on the 1950 film noir of the same name by Billy Wilder.
‘Growing up I always felt like I didn’t belong, but you all have made me feel like I belong, and I have come home at last,’ she shared in her acceptance speech, before thanking her fiancé Thom Evans, adding he ‘believes in me when I forget to believe in myself.’
Darren Criss, 38, won big, earning his first Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance in Maybe Happy Ending, written by Will Aronson and Hue Park.
The play — which explores themes of love, loneliness, and mortality and follows two ‘Helperbots’, robots designed to assist people, named Oliver and Claire — also won the top honor for Best Musical, with producer Jeffrey Richards accepting the award.
Meanwhile George Clooney, 64 — who was nominated for Good Night, And Good Luck — was shockingly snubbed, when he lost the Best Actor in a Play award to Cole Escola, 38. The star, who uses they/them pronouns, won for their performance in Oh, Mary! which they wrote and star in.
A shocked Reeves screamed before doing a rock on sign, as a cheeky Groff grabbed his chest – before jumping off the chair
Reeves recovered as Groff stood over him
A cheeky Groff then leapt off as the crowd went wild
Reeves had attended with his Bill and Ted co-star Alex Winter ahead of the pair’s Broadway run of Waiting For Godot
Fans took to social media to laud the shock moment, with one fan writing: ‘Jonathan Groff climbing over Keanu Reeves in the audience and then straddling him while performing at the Tonys omg lol’
A sobbing Nicole Scherzinger, 46, accepted her first ever Broadway honor at the star-studded 78th Annual Tony Awards
The Pussycat Dolls singer teared up after winning the Best Leading Actress in a Musical award, for her performance of aging Hollywood star Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, based on the 1950 film noir of the same name by Billy Wild
Darren Criss, 38, won big, earning his first Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance in Maybe Happy Ending, written by Will Aronson and Hue Park
George Clooney, 64 — who was nominated for Good Night, And Good Luck — was shockingly snubbed, when he lost the Best Actor in a Play award to Cole Escola, 38, who won for Oh, Mary!
The show, hosted by Cynthia Erivo, celebrated Broadway’s brightest talents in singing, acting, dancing and more.
Nicole started her acceptance speech, telling the audience: ‘First of all, I just have to thank God, for carrying me every step of the way. I give you all the glory.’
‘I’m so honored to be recognized alongside these exceptional warrior women in this category. I want to thank you all so much for making this little Hawaiian/ Ukrainian/ Filipino girl’s dream come true. So proud to represent.’
She also thanked her family, including her mom, stating she ‘had me at 18 and gave everything up for me.’
She then thanked composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, sharing: ‘It has been such an honor to be able to create with you the past 15 years.’
Later she gave a shout out to producer Jamie Lloyd: ‘Jamie, you saw in me what no one else did. You have given us all new ways to dream and you have changed my life forever.’
She wrapped up her inspiring speech, sharing, ‘If there’s anyone out there who feels like they don’t belong, or your time hasn’t come, don’t give up.’
‘Just keep on giving and giving, because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever.’
‘This is a testament that love always wins. Thank you so much. God Bess you.’
Sarah Snook, 37, kicked off the show, winning the Best Leading Actress in a Play award for her unbelievable performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure stars Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter presented her with the award
Maybe Happy Ending won the top honor for Best Musical, with producer Jeffrey Richards accepting the award
He received the award from Lin-Manuel Miranda
Producer Jamie Lloyd and legendary composer Andrew also accepted the award for Best musical revival for Sunset Boulevard
Francis Jue, 61, won the Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in Yellow Face
In the Best Leading Actor in a Musical category, Criss beat out Andrew Durand for Dead Outlaw, Tom Francis for Sunset Boulevard, Jonathan Groff for Just in Time, Jeremy Jordan for Floyd Collins, and James Monroe Iglehart for A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical.
Sarah Snook, 37, kicked off the show, winning the Best Leading Actress in a Play award for her unbelievable performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray, where she played all 26 characters, including Dorian and Lord Henry.
The Succession star made her Broadway debut in the ambitious stage adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s 1890 novel, directed and written by Kipp Williams.
Snook beat out a strong lineup of nominees including Laura Donnelly for The Hills of California, acting legend Mia Farrow for The Roommate, LaTanya Richardson Jackson for Purpose, and Stranger Things star Sadie Sink for John Proctor Is the Villain.
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure stars Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter presented her with the award.
Francis Jue, 61, won the best featured actor in a play for his performance in Yellow Face. He beat out Glenn Davis for Purpose, Gabriel Ebert for John Proctor Is the Villain, Bob Odenkirk for Glengarry Glen Ross, and Conrad Ricamora, Oh, Mary!
English actor Jak Malone, 30, nabbed the win for best featured actor in a musical, for his Broadway debut in Operation Mincemeat. He beat out Brooks Ashmanskas for Smash, Jeb Brown for Dead Outlaw, Danny Burstein for Gypsy, and Taylor Trensch for Floyd Collins.
Kara Young won best featured actress in a play for her performance in Purpose. She triumphed over Tala Ashe for English, Jessica Hecht for Eureka Day, Marjan Neshat for English, and Fina Strazza for John Proctor Is the Villain.
The Best Featured Actress in a Musical award went to Natalie Venetia Belcon, 56, for her performance in Buena Vista Social Club.
English actor Jak Malone, 30, nabbed the win for best featured actor in a musical, for his Broadway debut in Operation Mincemeat
The Best Featured Actress in a Musical award went to Natalie Venetia Belcon, 56, for her performance in Buena Vista Social Club
The best new play award went to author Branden Jacobs Jenkins and producer Glenn Davis for Purpose. They were up against Oh, Mary!, John Proctor Is the Villain, English, and The Hills of California.
Author Jonathan Spector and producer Lynne Meadow accepted the award for Best Revival of a Play for Eureka Day. They were up against Our Town, Romeo + Juliet, and Yellow Face.
The best direction of a play award was given to theatre director Sam Pinkleton for Oh, Mary!.
Meanwhile the best direction of a musical Tony award went to Michael Arden for Maybe Happy Ending.
The prestigious ceremony honoring theatre was hosted by three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo, who kicked off the show with a thrilling performance featuring Oprah Winfrey.
The star-studded list of presenters at this year’s Tony’s included Ariana DeBose, Adam Lambert, Ben Stiller, Bryan Cranston, Jesse Eisenberg, Keanu Reeves, Julianne Hough, Katie Holmes and more.