It was one of the most awkward moments in the history of the Oscars, of television, in entertainment, heck maybe in American history.
And somehow Warren Beatty, Hollywood’s ultimate smooth leading man, was at the center of it, and the accounting firm that is responsible for the integrity of Oscar voting apologized and was vowing a full investigation.
The producers of La La Land were nearly done with their acceptance speeches for best picture, the Oscar broadcast’s credits sequence about to roll, when a stir of whispers began on stage. Moments later La La Land producer Jordan Horowitz returned to the microphone and said “Moonlight won best picture” and insisted that “this is not a joke.”
The accounting firm PwC, formerly Price Waterhouse Coopers, said early Monday that Beatty and Dunaway had been given the wrong envelope.
“We sincerely apologize to Moonlight, La La Land, Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, and Oscar viewers for the error that was made during the award announcement for best picture,” a statement from the firm said. “The presenters had mistakenly been given the wrong category envelope and when discovered, was immediately corrected. We are currently investigating how this could have happened, and deeply regret that this occurred.”
The statement came several hours after the chaotic ending, which featured Beatty returning to the mic to explain that he had opened the envelope and he was confused when it read “Emma Stone, La La Land.” He had shown it to co-presenter Faye Dunaway briefly, as though he wanted her to read it, which she did, apparently assuming the Emma Stone part was off but the La La Land part correct.
“It’s one of the strangest things that’s ever happened to me,” Beatty said backstage. “Thank God there were two of us up there,” Dunaway responded.
ABC News, tweeting about the ceremony broadcast on its network, said the envelope held by Beatty read, “Actress in a leading role.” A close-up photo of Beatty onstage verified that.
PwC has counted votes and provides winner envelopes for the Oscars and has done so for more than 80 years.
When the firm’s representatives realized the mistake, they raced onstage to right it, but too late, officials told the Associated Press.
The result was a bizarre scene with the entire cast of both movies standing together on stage exchanging sympathetic awkward stares and hugs.
“It made a very special feeling even more special, but not in the way I expected,” a bemused Jenkins, co-writer and director of Moonlight, said backstage.
“The folks at La La Land were so gracious,” he added. “I can’t imagine being in their position and having to do that.”