The Enduring Sexism of ‘Resting Bitch Face’

What to do if everyone can tell what you think from your face

Image: The Academy Awards/ABC/GIPHY

Was Idina Menzel really perplexed by Eminem rising up from the stage at the Academy Awards, or did she just overhear a baffling comment from a person sitting nearby?

Was Billie Eilish actually pulling a face at Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph’s comedy routine, or was she just wondering if she remembered to lock her car?

Spare a thought for the A-list attendees at award shows. In exchange for a swag bag and the minuscule chance of winning a career-defining trophy, attendees sit captive in unforgiving formal wear for hours while camera crews roam the aisles, hunting for an errant scowl, gasp, or skeptically raised eyebrow. What they’re seeking is that much-memefied award-show staple known as “the…