Warren Beatty, alongside Faye Dunaway, mistakenly announced that La La Land had won the Best Picture award at the 89th Academy Awards in 2017 due to a critical envelope mix-up. This moment became one of the most infamous and discussed errors in Oscars history, forever etching itself into the annals of entertainment.
The Initial Announcement and Immediate Aftermath
The announcement of La La Land as the Best Picture winner sent a wave of jubilation through the film’s team. The producers, cast, and crew rushed onto the stage, accepting accolades and delivering heartfelt acceptance speeches. The initial confusion stemmed from the fact that Beatty had opened the wrong envelope – specifically, the envelope announcing Emma Stone’s Best Actress win for La La Land.
Warren Beatty’s Explanation
Beatty, upon realizing the error, attempted to clarify the situation subtly. He noticed the card read “Emma Stone, La La Land,” and hesitated, showing the card to Dunaway. However, Dunaway, interpreting Beatty’s hesitation as a cue, quickly announced La La Land as the winner. Beatty later explained that he was trying to figure out what was happening and avoid publicly announcing an error, a decision that ultimately led to greater confusion.
The Real Winner: Moonlight
Amidst the La La Land celebration, the producers of Moonlight noticed the growing confusion and eventually stepped forward to announce that Moonlight was, in fact, the actual winner. The atmosphere shifted dramatically from jubilant celebration to stunned disbelief and awkward correction.
The PwC’s Role and the Investigation
The accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was responsible for safeguarding and distributing the envelopes containing the names of the Oscar winners. The company immediately took responsibility for the error and launched an internal investigation to determine the exact cause.
The Root Cause of the Error
The investigation revealed that PwC partner Brian Cullinan had mistakenly handed Beatty the duplicate envelope for Best Actress, which was meant to be used after Stone’s award was announced backstage. Cullinan was also found to have been distracted by using his phone to tweet pictures from backstage, potentially contributing to his lack of focus.
Consequences for PwC
The incident led to significant reputational damage for PwC. Cullinan and his colleague, Martha Ruiz, were removed from their roles overseeing the Oscars telecast. PwC also implemented new procedures to prevent similar errors from happening in the future, including stricter rules about phone use backstage and a more rigorous verification process for envelope distribution.
FAQs About the La La Land Oscars Mix-Up
This section addresses common questions surrounding the infamous Oscars incident, providing deeper context and clarifying lingering uncertainties.
FAQ 1: Why did Warren Beatty show the card to Faye Dunaway?
Warren Beatty showed the card to Faye Dunaway because he realized it contained the wrong information – it read “Emma Stone, La La Land.” He was trying to understand the situation and avoid announcing an incorrect winner. He hoped Dunaway would understand his hesitation and perhaps realize the error herself.
FAQ 2: Could Warren Beatty have handled the situation differently?
In hindsight, Beatty could have handled the situation with more directness. Clearly stating that the card was incorrect or specifically naming Emma Stone and the Best Actress category might have prevented Dunaway from announcing La La Land as the winner. However, he was likely trying to avoid a public embarrassment and hoping for a more discreet correction.
FAQ 3: What happened to the actual Best Picture envelope for Moonlight?
The actual Best Picture envelope for Moonlight was in the possession of the other PwC partner backstage, Martha Ruiz. The error occurred because Brian Cullinan, the partner on stage, handed Beatty the duplicate Best Actress envelope instead.
FAQ 4: What were the new procedures implemented by PwC after the mix-up?
PwC implemented several new procedures, including:
- A third partner overseeing the envelope process from a control room.
- A ban on cell phone use by PwC partners backstage.
- Confirmation of each envelope’s contents with the stage director before handing it to a presenter.
- Rehearsals with presenters to clarify the correct announcement protocol.
FAQ 5: Did the La La Land team know immediately that it was a mistake?
Not immediately. There was initial confusion as the La La Land team celebrated. It took several minutes for the Moonlight producers to realize the error and bring it to the attention of the production team and eventually, the La La Land producers.
FAQ 6: How did the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences react to the incident?
The Academy was deeply disappointed by the error and publicly apologized to both the La La Land and Moonlight teams. They supported PwC’s investigation and worked with the company to implement new procedures to prevent future mistakes.
FAQ 7: Was this the first major error in Oscars history?
While not the first error, it was arguably the most prominent and impactful in recent history. Smaller gaffes have occurred, but none involved the incorrect announcement of the Best Picture winner.
FAQ 8: Did the mix-up affect the legacy of Moonlight‘s win?
While the initial announcement was overshadowed by the error, Moonlight‘s win ultimately cemented its place as a landmark achievement in cinema. The film’s powerful themes and artistic merit ensured that its legacy transcended the initial confusion.
FAQ 9: How did the actors involved, such as Emma Stone, react to the situation?
Emma Stone expressed sympathy for both the La La Land and Moonlight teams. She stated that she was initially confused but understood the situation once it was clarified. She acknowledged the awkwardness of the moment but emphasized the deserving nature of Moonlight‘s win.
FAQ 10: What lessons can be learned from the La La Land/Moonlight Oscars mix-up?
The incident highlights the importance of meticulous attention to detail, clear communication, and adherence to established protocols, especially in high-pressure situations. It also underscores the human element involved and the potential for errors, even with established processes.
FAQ 11: Did the incident impact the careers of Warren Beatty or Faye Dunaway?
The incident did cause some initial criticism and ridicule, but it did not significantly impact the long-term careers of Warren Beatty or Faye Dunaway. Both actors remain respected figures in the film industry.
FAQ 12: Has anything similar happened at other major award shows since the La La Land incident?
While there have been minor mishaps, nothing of the same magnitude has occurred at other major award shows. The La La Land/Moonlight mix-up served as a cautionary tale, prompting award show organizers and accounting firms to review and strengthen their procedures.
Lasting Legacy
The 2017 Oscars mix-up remains a significant moment in pop culture history. While the immediate aftermath was chaotic and embarrassing, it ultimately led to positive changes in the award show process and served as a reminder of the importance of accuracy and communication. Despite the initial error, both La La Land and Moonlight will forever be remembered as exceptional films, each making a lasting impact on the world of cinema.