The Academy Apologizes for Screwing Up Best Picture Announcement; Watch Jimmy Kimmel Explain the Ceremony's Insane Ending
By now, you've heard all about "envelopegate," the nickname of the utterly crazy end to this weekend's Academy Awards when Moonlight won Best Picture after the award being briefly (incorrectly) given to La La Land. Following an apology from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accounting firm responsible for the mix-up, the Academy itself has issued a formal apology for the gaffe.
“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.
"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. 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.”
I'm still in shock that something like this could happen, and you can be damn sure that it will continue to be one of the most talked-about moments in the history of the Academy Awards for decades to come.
The accounting firm has since issued yet another apology, this time in a statement on Twitter:
Reportedly, the mix-up may have resulted from Cullinan being distracted because he was tweeting a photo of Emma Stone from backstage (which has now been deleted), an act which was against protocol. What a wild night. Listen to Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel explain the situation from his perspective: