Mahershala Ali Grabs Major Attention for His Hat at the Oscars 2019

On Sunday, Mahershala Ali took home the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2019 Oscars!

During his acceptance speech, he showed his appreciation to his grandmother “who has been in my ear my entire life telling me that if at first I don't succeed try try again. That I could do anything I put my mind to. Always, always pushing me to think positively and I know that I would not be here without her. She's gotten me over the hump every step of the way."

The two-time Oscar winner was dressed to impress in an Ermenegildo Zegna XXX suit and a Cartier watch. He also grabbed attention with his Burris by Gigi Burris hat, which might have been a tribute to his religion, instead of a fashion statement.

While some may have mistaken it for a knit beanie, it could have been a kufi hat or karakul.

Ali has worn similar hats in the past, but it may have been the first time he wore one to an award show.

A few days before, Ali sported a hat at Common's 5th Annual Toast to the Arts, sponsored by Heineken.

In 2017, he also stepped out in a similar look at the Hollywood Reporter dinner.

The 45-year-old converted to Islam in 1999. A few years ago, he told Radio Times, “If you convert to Islam after a couple of decades of being a black man in the US, the discrimination you receive as a Muslim doesn't feel like a shock. I've been pulled over, asked where my gun is, asked if I'm a pimp, had my car pulled apart. Muslims will feel like there's this new discrimination that they hadn't received before — but it's not new for us.”