UPDATE: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has released a statement following the Best Picture envelope mix-up.
“We deeply regret the mistakes that were made during the presentation of the Best Picture category during last night’s Oscar ceremony. We apologize to the entire cast and crew of La La Land and Moonlight whose experience was profoundly altered by this error. We salute the tremendous grace they displayed under the circumstances. To all involved — including our presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, the filmmakers, and our fans watching worldwide — we apologize,” the statement read. “For the last 83 years, the Academy has entrusted PwC to handle the critical tabulation process, including the accurate delivery of results.”
“PwC has taken full responsibility for the breaches of established protocols that took place during the ceremony,” the statement continued. “We have spent last night and today investigating the circumstances, and will determine what actions are appropriate going forward. We are unwaveringly committed to upholding the integrity of the Oscars and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.”
PwC also shared a comment on Twitter that partly read, “For the past 83 years, the Academy has entrusted PwC with the integrity of the awards process during the ceremony, and last night we failed the Academy.”
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It was a finale to never forget.
While everyone watching the 2017 Oscars Sunday night thought the Best Picture winner would be announced, the audience would cheer, host Jimmy Kimmel would say goodbye and everyone would get up and leave in one fell swoop, the last moments of the Academy Awards were not so seamless.
It began with Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, two Hollywood legends, Oscar winners and former co-stars, who took the stage to present the last category of the evening, Best Picture.
However, it seemed something was a touch awry when Beatty paused in between revealing the name of the film on the card he was holding. He looked down, looked back up and looked at Dunaway, while viewers watched and waited.
Meanwhile, Dunaway urged him to “come on” and announced La La Land herself. While some thought Beatty’s reaction might have been a simple jest, in hindsight, it was a sign that things were not right with the card.