Kim Novak sparks Twitter snark-fest, immediate snark backlash after Oscars appearance

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: Actors Kim Novak (L) and Matthew McConaughey speak onstage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Kim Novak (left) and Matthew McConaughey speak onstage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

When 81-year-old actress Kim Novak appeared at the Oscars Sunday night to present the animated feature awards with Matthew McConaughey, Twitter did what Twitter often does, and filled up with negativity. The “Vertigo” star’s stilted delivery and appearance were the most frequent targets. Some of the tweets were really mean:

Quick, someone get Kim Novak an epi-pen, she’s having an allergic reaction of some kind!

— Josh (@RadioTFB) March 3, 2014

Anyone else find the irony in Kim Novak presenting the animation award and the winner was “Frozen”? ;0) #oscars

— shawna mcmanus (@shawnaCaliGirl) March 3, 2014

Kim Novak had plastic surgery on her voice

— rob corddry (@robcorddry) March 3, 2014

All three of us saw Kim Novak’s face and said, “Ohhh.”

— Tyler Coates (@tylercoates) March 3, 2014

Almost as immediately, people chimed in admonishing the snarky people making fun of the ’50s and ’60s film actress — or not showing her enough appreciation:

Know that we’re judging you if you’re making fun of Kim Novak right now.

— The Wire (@TheWire) March 3, 2014

YOU KNOW WHAT GUYS KIM NOVAK IS 81 AND SHE DIDNT FALL DOWN TWICE UNLIKE SOME OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW

— billy eichner (@billyeichner) March 3, 2014

Stand up, people! Kim Novak is the star of perhaps the greatest movie of all time, for Chrissakes!

— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) March 3, 2014

Kim Novak takes a beating on Twitter http://t.co/I9zwAcUhHq via @USATODAY. She’s 81! Shame on ALL of you for being nasty to her!

— Connie Girl (@RPWsgirl13) March 3, 2014

For those unfamiliar with Novak, she’s most famous for appearing Alfred Hitchock’s “Vertigo” in 1958, and also starred in “The Man With the Golden Arm” (1955), “Strangers When We Meet” (1960), “Kiss Me, Stupid” (1964) and many more.

Last month, Life.com wrote about Novak appearing on a Life magazine cover at age 23.

In the early 1950s, right around the time she stole scenes as a pretty young thing driving Jack Lemmon nuts in the oddly titled 1954 comedy, Phffft!, Kim Novak caught the eye of LIFE magazine’s photographers, who were charmed by her talent, her haunting beauty and her determination to be not merely a star, but a genuine actress. Their fascination with the young Novak proved prescient: In the coming years, she would become one of the most accomplished and versatile movie stars of the decade…

McConaughey appeared delighted to appear next to the star as they got ready to announce the nominees for animated movies. “You affected a whole generation of men, got them quite animated with your work in ‘Vertigo,’” he said.

Novak slowly but surely went along with the banter, but then broke from the script: “I gotta take a minute just to say, I’m really glad to be here. It’s been a long time,” she said, to applause from the audience.

“Me too, yes ma’am,” McConaughey agreed.

The audience applauded again, but Twitter continued its back-and-forth Novak war — although the sympathizers were pulling into the lead for awhile, the snark continued on Monday morning.