Nicole Kidmans peculiar clapping style at the Oscars was not the most shocking moment of the night, but it was certainly one of the more confusing things we saw on the broadcast.

As it turns out, theres a pretty fair explanation for the palms-only clap that sparked a Twitter uproar (and no, its not because Kidman never learned how).

Kidman revealed she clapped awkwardly out of fear shed otherwise damage the huge ring she was wearing, according to a radio interview with Australian radio show Kyle & Jackie O . The ring was part of her 119-carat loan of jewelry from Harry Winston for the evening.

It was really awkward and I was like Gosh, I want to clap, I dont want to not be clapping, which would be worse, right? she said. It was really difficult because I had a huge ring on that was not my own but was absolutely gorgeous and I was terrified of damaging it.