The 89th Academy Awards ceremony ended with a shocking twist. “La La Land” was mistakenly named the winner for best picture instead of “Moonlight.”
After the cast of “La La Land” took the stage to accept the award for best picture, producer Jordan Horowitz rushed to the microphone to say there had been a huge misunderstanding, and that “Moonlight” was the real winner.
“There’s a mistake,” Horowitz said. “Moonlight,’ you guys won best picture. . . This is not a joke.”
“I’m afraid they read the wrong thing,” another chimed in.
You can watch the whole thing here.
WATCH: 'La La Land' announced as #Oscars Best Picture winner, but only until a mistake is realized with 'Moonlight' being the real winner. pic.twitter.com/wYsUngcdwe
— ABC News (@ABC) February 27, 2017
Yep. That really just happened.
Watch Jimmy Kimmel try to smooth the whole thing over by making a joke about Steve Harvey, the TV personality who mistakenly crowned the wrong contestant as Miss Universe in 2015.
#Oscars shocker: Warren Beatty reads the wrong Best Picture winner, 'La La Land' didn't win — 'Moonlight' did. pic.twitter.com/iB6TLxyTn5
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 27, 2017
#TooSoon.
Presenter Warren Beatty explained that when he opened the envelope, the card read “Emma Stone, ‘La La Land.'”
“That’s why I took such a long look at Faye (Dunaway) and at you,” Beatty said. “I wasn’t trying to be funny.”
“La La Land” star Emma Stone’s comments after the show added to some of the confusion surrounding the debacle. The actress said she was holding the card for best actress in a leading role backstage the entire time.
A very classy Emma Stone explains it all about that #Oscars #BestPicture moment. pic.twitter.com/9gyvO1PoAY
— LightsCameraJackson (@LCJReviews) February 27, 2017
A closer look at the card in Beatty’s hands show he was indeed holding an envelope that reads: “Actress In A Leading Role.”
Envelope in Warren Beatty’s hands read “ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE” when announcing Best Picture. https://t.co/naq6LCfSrE #Oscars pic.twitter.com/YmXWXcudfu
— ABC News (@ABC) February 27, 2017
Variety reports: “There are always two sets of envelopes at the Academy Awards: The PriceWaterhouseCoopers accountants bring two briefcases, then stand backstage, one on each side of the stage. They hand the envelopes to the presenters right before they walk out.”
While full story behind the snafu is still unclear, Twitter users had their own theories and jokes about the ordeal.
50 yrs ago #WarrenBeatty #FayeDunaway played #BonnieAndClyde. 50 yrs later, they returned for #OneLastJob.#Oscars #BestPicture #Moonlight
— Jesse Garcia (@TheRealSBHS1994) February 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/MOVIEMEMORlES/status/836087601484398592
When you win the oscar right after you lost the oscar #lalaland #Moonlight #Oscars #BestPicture pic.twitter.com/MCnucgD5BD
— rhea lahiri (@RheaForReal) February 27, 2017
If there's one thing that's truly American, it's our peaceful transfer of power from one #BestPicture winner to another. #Oscars
— Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger) February 27, 2017
"I switched the envelopes" #BestPicture #Oscars pic.twitter.com/ISU6xSj0zF
— Ishani Gnanakone (@ishyyg17) February 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/iAmMrKenny/status/836082504754921472
You had ONE JOB, envelope stuffer.#Oscars2017 #BestPicture
— Kathryn Harriman (@kathrynlindsey) February 27, 2017
