Mick Jagger joked about stepping in for the "Mr. Tambourine Man" singer for the awards show Bob Dylan's absence at the 2025 Oscars was a running joke — and that's all it was. According to Walt Disney TV’s Rob Mills,

"A Complete Unknown," starring Timothée Chalamet, was completely out of tune at the 97th Academy Awards Sunday in Los Angeles.

Bob Dylan declined to present and perform at the 2025 Academy Awards, according to 'The Hollywood Reporter.' Mick Jagger joked about taking his place onstage as someone "younger"

Both host Conan O'Brien and best original song presenter Mick Jagger suggested that the 'Complete Unknown' subject had passed on attending the ceremony.

If there’s one thing we can certainly count on when it comes to the Academy Awards, it’s that we’re going to see our favorite famous faces from Hollywood. From the filmmakers who bring our favorite movies to life behind the scenes to the actors and actresses who tell the stories in front of the camera,

Actors in contention to become Oscar winners included Demi Moore ( The Substance) and Timothée Chalamet ( A Complete Unknown) – but both lost out on the night, with Mikey Madison taking home Best Actress and Adrien Brody winning his second Oscar for his role in The Brutalist.

In the category of lighthearted humor, presenter Mick Jagger’s joke about Bob Dylan supposedly being invited to present the award for Best Original Song, but declining, was certainly a standout. Honestly,