Crowe's Oscar Faux Pas

April 5 -- Russell Crowe wanted to have "a bit of his grandfather with him" on Oscar night, which is why the Gladiator star chose to wear a medal that had belonged to his late relative pinned to his tuxedo jacket.

The medal may have brought Crowe luck — he won his first Best Actor Oscar — but it's also bringing him criticism.

The Member of the Order of the British Empire medal, which was bestowed upon Crowe's granddad by England's Queen Elizabeth for his work as a World War II cinematographer, should only be worn by its recipients, an expert tells People magazine.

Clive Cheesman, of the British College of Arms, tells the magazine, "It's not a criminal offense, but it's not appropriate."

Not appropriate? Uh, you try telling Crowe that. We don't wanna.