Portman attended the awards night to announce the winner for the Best Director category and after co-presenter Ron Howard introduced the nominees she sarcastically said, "And here are the all-male nominees."
Director Guillermo Del Toro went on to win the award for "The Shape of Water," but many fans felt women directors like Greta Gerwig, Dee Rees and Patty Jenkins were unfairly shut out of the category.
Only one woman has ever won in the category is Barbra Streisand, for "Yentl" in 1984.
Many celebs and fans took to Twitter to praise Portman for savaging the awards, where winners' speeches were dominated by the call for equality.
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Evan Rachel Wood wrote, "And Natalie Portman is my f****** Hero!"
Gina Rodriguez said, "Natalie Portman dropping the truth like #TimesUp"
Sarah Silver tweeted , "Oh shit Portman for the win! 'And here are the all male nominees' wheeeeWhoooo".
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