Movie star Luke Evans made an appearance during the 79th Tony Awards on Wednesday. He took the stage as Dr. Frank-N-Furter from the Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show, and fans had strong reactions.

Luke Evans has spent years playing heroes, villains, and legendary characters on screen — but his latest appearance may be the one everyone is talking about.

The 47-year-old actor, best known for his role as Bard the Bowman in The Hobbit films, stole the spotlight at the 79th Tony Awards with a performance that quickly set social media buzzing.

Taking the stage as Dr. Frank-N-Furter from the Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show, Evans fully embraced the iconic character in a dazzling corset, fishnet stockings, high heels, and a glittering costume that left, well, little to the imagination.

As he began the powerful rendition of the cult favorite “Sweet Transvestite,” it was truly one of the most unforgettable moments. To no one’s surprise, reactions came flooding in online. 

The performance quickly set off a wave of debate online, with viewers divided over Luke Evans’ bold on-stage appearance.

Luke Evans’ Tony Awards’ appearance sparks strong reactions

While many praised the actor for fully committing to the character’s wild, theatrical spirit, others felt the provocative number went too far for a nationally televised awards show.

One user wrote, “Low taste, disgusting….i am glad my children dont like to watch this garbage….”

“Demonic,” another added, while a third said, “disgusting.”

“I didn’t know he’d be able to wear the jockstrap on national television!” a fourth stated.

Another X user wrote, “This is what happens when Broadway people are left unsupervised.”

One user stated, “I can’t believe they didn’t find a way to censor Luke Evans’ costume for this TV performance.”

Some viewers admitted they were stunned by the daring look, while many others applauded Evans for committing completely to the role famously brought to life by Tim Curry in both the original stage production and the beloved 1975 film.

“He is having the time of his life”

“Wow! For the first time, I see someone interpret Dr. Frank-N-Furter so naturally aside from Tim Curry,” one fan wrote on social media.

“He is having the time of his life. He is so happy,” a second stated, while a third added, “The musical theater was created to have LUKE EVANS giving it his all as the lead… obviously.”

Other social media users also praised Evans for his confidence, charisma, and commanding stage presence. For the actor, the role carries a deeper meaning than many may realize. Evans has previously revealed that songs from The Rocky Horror Show played an important role in inspiring him as a teenager and in sparking his passion for performing.

Now, nearly three decades later, stepping into the shoes of Frank-N-Furter on Broadway marked a remarkable full-circle moment in his career.

The Rocky Horror Show revival on Broadway received nine Tony nominations, including Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for Luke Evans and Best Revival of a Musical. Its plot follows a straight, innocent young couple who accidentally stumble into a bizarre world of R-rated mature liberation and mad science.

Love it or hate it, one thing is certain: Luke Evans made sure his Tony Awards performance will be remembered for a long time

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