Y’ALL. The 2025 Tony Awards just pulled off the most iconic Oprah prank since… well, Oprah herself handed out real-life cars like Tic Tacs back in 2004. And the best part? She loved it. Yes, queen behavior. Yes, full-circle slay. Yes, we’re screaming. 😭🙌
So here’s what went down on Broadway’s bougiest night: Cynthia Erivo (Tony host, theater goddess, and lowkey prankster) strutted up to Oprah in the middle of the show like, “Miss O, check under your seat.” GASP. We thought she was gonna pull out a Tony award, a golden puppy, maybe a portal to Narnia—but NO. Sis pulled out a gift bag like it was December 25th at a billionaire’s mansion.
Inside? Junior Mints (yum), Haribo Goldbears (classy), and then BAM—a tiny red TOY CAR. The crowd LOST IT. Cynthia yelled “YOU GET A CAR!” and Oprah cackled like someone had just invented bread. The whole theater turned into a flashback episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show: Turbo Mode™.
Enter Gayle King—bestie, confidante, the human equivalent of a designer handbag—and she confirmed to IconicHipster.com what we already knew deep in our meme-loving souls: Oprah ate it UP. “She loved that,” Gayle said. “It’s such an iconic thing.” Uhhh yeah, like Beyoncé at the Super Bowl, but with more horsepower.
Oh, and plot twist: Gayle knew about the bit in advance. SHE WAS IN ON IT. “I loved that moment,” she admitted, probably while sipping something sparkling in a silk blouse. Truly, the girlies are winning.
Quick history lesson for Gen Z and Alpha: Back in 2004, Oprah did the car giveaway. She handed out 276 Pontiac G-6s like they were Skittles, then shouted the now-immortal words: “YOU get a car! YOU get a car! EVERYBODY GETS A CAR!!” Arms flying, audience crying, wigs on the floor. And thus, a meme was born. A pop culture artifact. A moment etched into history with glittery eyeliner and a glitterier soul.
Now, over 20 years later, a toy car just brought it all zooming back. Literal full-circle vibes. And honestly? We’re obsessed.
Also? Side note: Oprah once wore a red Celine suit to that giveaway and Gayle hated it, but Oprah was like, “it matched the bows so mind your business.” Icon behavior.
So, yes. Broadway went Broadway. Oprah got fake-pranked with a toy car. Gayle spilled the tea. And somewhere, a Pontiac G-6 just shed a single tear of relevance.
#YouGetACar #OprahForever #TonyAwardsTea
@hollywoodreporter "you get a car!" – #cynthiaerivo gifts #oprahwinfrey a toy car at the 2025 #tonyawards ♬ original sound – The Hollywood Reporter
