Creed type Movie genre Sports

Rocky Balboa was always the underdog in the ring, but many considered Sylvester Stallone a heavy favorite to take home the award for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars on Sunday night. After months of critical praise, not to mention a Golden Globe win, Stallone seemed like the sentimental choice after breathing new life into Rocky in Creed.

Stallone, however, walked away emptyhanded, as he was upset by Bridge of Spies‘ Mark Rylance. But that doesn’t mean that Stallone has retreated from the limelight. While some people from Stallone’s corner protested Oscar’s verdict, the actor took to social media to thank his fans for all of their support and give a message to all of the “real Rockys” out there. Posting a photo of himself winking, Stallone said: “Please hang on to your dreams, NEVER GIVE IN, NEVER GIVE OUT, NEVER GIVE UP! thanks for the support.”

It’s an odd moment of life mirroring art for Stallone. After all, the original Rocky was never about winning. It was about one man going the distance against the best in the business and proving to himself that he wasn’t just another bum from the neighborhood. With this most recent chapter in the Rocky franchise, Stallone did just that.