Actress Nicole Kidman became an Internet sensation — and not in a good way — for her weird style of clapping during the Oscars, which observers likened to everything from a seal to a robot to a lizard to the Grinch.

Kidman explained her predicament when the subject came up during an interview for the Australian radio show “Kyle & Jackie O.”

Echoing the speculation of a number of observers, host Kyle Sandilands softballed: “I believe you were clapping like that because you had the rings on and you didn’t want to damage the rings.”

Kidman replied: “You are so right, Kyle. I’m so glad you clarified that because it was really awkward! I was like gosh, I want to clap, I don’t want to not be clapping, which would be worse, right? ‘Why isn’t Nicole clapping?’”

She added: “It was really difficult because I had a huge ring on that was not my own, but it was absolutely gorgeous, and I was terrified of damaging it!”