Actor Warren Beatty announced the wrong Best Picture winner at last night’s Academy Awards.
It was the greatest flub in the Oscar’s history.
Beatty announced “La La Land” had one the award then had to correct himself and announce the real winner was “Moonlight.”
Warren Beatty explains what happened on stage. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/k0eMVvZ0to
— Variety (@Variety) February 27, 2017
The ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ actors had already announced that ‘La La Land’ had taken the top honor.
Moonlight ultimately shined the brightest at the Oscars on Sunday, taking home the award for best picture.
Barry Jenkins’ coming-of-age drama beat out the category’s frontrunner La La Land, as well as Hidden Figures, Arrival, Fences, Hacksaw Ridge, Hell or High Water, Lion and Manchester by the Sea.
The award was given to Moonlight after presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway initially announced that La La Land had won best picture. As the film’s producers were making their acceptance speeches, producer Jordan Horowitz informed viewers that the category’s winner was actually Moonlight, and showed the card announcing the winner to the camera. Beatty then informed the stunned audience of the mix-up, as he and Dunaway had mistakenly been given — and read — the card for best actress, which was presented to La La Land’s Emma Stone just minutes before.
Twitter users quickly caught that Beatty was given the wrong envelope.
Beatty was given the envelope for “Actress in a Leading Role.”
Proof Warren Beatty was given the "Actress In A Leading Role" envelope. Yep, someone is getting fired at @TheAcademy. #BestPicture #Oscars pic.twitter.com/dDmHLwocnv
— SuCh (@SuCh) February 27, 2017
Wrong envelope.
I was recording the #oscars to a hard drive. This frame clearly shows that Warren Beatty was given the “Actress In A Leading Role” envelope. pic.twitter.com/PL3eA8Ds1i
— Andy Ihnatko (@Ihnatko) February 27, 2017
It is clear from a different angle that Beatty had the wrong envelope.
According to Twitter users duplicate envelopes are placed at each side of the stage for presenters. Beatty was given the wrong envelope before he walked out on stage.
Twitter was quick to react to the historic error.
@Cernovich @NateSilver538 "There is now a 99.2% chance that La La Land will win Best Picture."
— Cicero (@SaveZeRepublic) February 27, 2017
Matt Drudge called the show the “most politically-drenched night in history.”
Most politically-drenched night in history of Hollywood. The commercials, the ABC promos, the standing ovations for anything and everything!
— MATT DRUDGE (@DRUDGE) February 27, 2017
Trump said this back in 2014.
It still fits today.
Flashback #Oscars https://t.co/pTNSM2lhW1
— Ed (@EdBigCon) February 27, 2017
