Streaming service Hulu experienced a major outage during the 2025 Oscars, leaving thousands of viewers frustrated as key moments were missed. Reports indicate that over 34,000 users faced issues, including being unexpectedly logged out or receiving error messages indicating the event had finished.According to The Independent, the outage coincided precisely with pivotal award announcements, sparking outrage on social media as viewers flocked to express their dissatisfaction. The technical failure disrupted the viewing experience at a particularly critical moment when the Best Actress award was being announced. Instead of witnessing the announcement live, many viewers were met with messages stating that the Oscars event had ended. Some customers took to social media to express their disbelief and anger, stating, “Hulu owes me a damn refund right about now. All that advertisement about streaming the #Oscars2025, only for the site to not work,” as reported by Newsweek. Hulu’s troubles did not start with the Oscars, as users experienced login issues right from the beginning. Those affected missed the red carpet pre-show and performances, including a medley by "Wicked" stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, according to HuffPost. This marks Hulu's inaugural live broadcast of the Oscars, and their approach has drawn scrutiny amid growing concerns over the reliability of streaming platforms for live events. The issues continued as the ceremony proceeded, culminating in viewers missing the announcements for both Best Actress and Best Picture, awards that went to Mikey Madison for "Anora." In a statement, Hulu acknowledged the technical issues, indicating they were “investigating this behavior with high priority” and were working to resolve the problems promptly. As stated by SFGate, this setback emphasizes the vulnerabilities of the streaming ecosystem, especially as traditional broadcasters have ceded major events to online platforms. While the Oscars has predominantly aired on ABC, Hulu's streaming option this year was heavily marketed as a primary means for viewers without cable access to engage with Hollywood's most significant night. Following the incident, Hulu has released a replay of the Oscars, allowing viewers to catch what they had missed. As streaming technology becomes increasingly intertwined with significant cultural events, issues like these raise questions on the reliability of platforms and the future of broadcasting.