Nicole Kidman says 'awkward' Oscars clap was to protect ring

March 9 (UPI) -- Nicole Kidman says her "awkward" Oscars clap was intended to protect her valuable ring.

The 49-year-old Australian actress explained on Thursday's episode of the Kyle and Jackie O Show that her "seal clap" at the 2017 Academy Awards was to avoid damaging her Harry Winston diamond jewelry.

"It was really awkward!" Kidman admitted. "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?'

"It was really difficult because I had a huge ring on that was not my own," she said. "It was absolutely gorgeous, and I was terrified of damaging it. It's like, is there not more important things to be focused on than the seal clap?"

Kidman wore 115 carats of diamonds to the Oscars in February, where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Lion. Social media exploded after she was spotted gingerly clapping with just her palms.

"#Oscars think Nicole Kidman must have only just got her acrylics done. What is this seal clapping?" one person tweeted in response.

"Little known fact about Nicole Kidman - she is in fact half sea lion," another added.

Kidman plays Celeste on the HBO limited series Big Little Lies, which airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET. She will also star in the new Sofia Coppola movie The Beguiled, which released a first teaser trailer in February.