PricewaterhouseCoopers apologizes for outrageous Oscar mix up Published By Tribute on Feb 27, 2017

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has apologized for the mistake seen around the world during last night's Academy Award broadcast when the wrong movie was awarded the coveted Best Picture Oscar.

The statement reads: "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."

The world-renowned accounting firm has been tallying the votes and supervising their delivery for cinema's most celebrated ceremony for 83 years, and never has anyone seen a mix up like this.

In case you missed it, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were tasked with awarding the Best Picture Oscar, but they were handed the wrong envelope -- one that contained the Best Actress winner, which was Emma Stone for La La Land. Warren hesitated and passed the envelope to Faye, who upon seeing the name of the film, mistook it as the winner for Best Picture and read it out loud.

The cast and crew of the film arrived on stage and began to accept the award when it was revealed a mistake had been made and that the wrong card was read -- Moonlight was the actual winner for Best Picture.

Ironically, PwC supervisors Brian Cullinan and Martha Ruiz had just given an interview to the BBC days earlier explaining what was supposed to be the foolproof system. A duplicate card of each result is made in case anything happens to the presenter and the card they are given. Ruiz and Cullinan each get their own full set of the results and put the cards into their envelopes in addition to memorizing the winner of each category in case something should happen to the cards. The envelopes are locked in a safe until the day of the awards ceremony, when they are then put into briefcases and transported by Cullinan and Ruiz separately under security protection to the ceremony. They then wait offstage and hand the envelope to each presenter just before they walk on stage.

It's unclear how Warren was handed the duplicate envelope for Best Actress instead of the result for Best Picture, but you can be sure it will be intensely investigated. Regardless, this really does feel like something that could only happen "in the movies."

You can see the full list of winners here.

What was your reaction when it was revealed the wrong winner was read? Tell us below! ~Alexa Caruso

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Comments & Discussion

Card Wells - 2/27/2017 2:17:20 PM

Need a real investigation. Makes no sense. Have these 2 people from PWC done this at previous event or newbies... Obviously ....YouAreFired! This requires a detective the calibre of Columbo,Sherlock Holmes & Jessica (Agatha Christie). It's a wonder Kimmel didn't say Russians & Trump & KKK conspiracy...Stay tuned..He surely will...Also Kimmel's remarks or rather sick shots (bowel movement). This is a time for great people to do & say something.. For the President of the United States to be so maligned ..Wake up people.. Kimmel has just dumped on u ( the basket of deplorables).
Vinny - 2/27/2017 2:45:14 PM

Dump got dumped on and he deserves every word if it. Hollywood is not a fan of the cartoon character Dump! Open your eyes fool!
Mike C - 2/27/2017 4:38:26 PM

Not to disparage any Best Picture nominees, but the PwC Oscar error may have been a strange fluke for future consideration. Will Moonlight still feel like the Best Picture in 20 years? The film world of 2017 needed the music and the lift that came from La La Land!
CDubya - 2/28/2017 12:17:02 PM

I guess nothing is "foolproof". You need to choose words carefully. Foot-in-mouth big time! I think the Oscars seriously swung the pendulum the opposite direction and went from White to Black so fast it's funny. BUT, this seemed more inclusive for sure. This is how the Oscars should look.
paulette andria hamilton - 2/28/2017 8:11:46 PM

I gained a point in the Oscar Pool. I loved loved La La land but am Glad moonlight Won Best Picture it will stand the test of time even with its subject matter very poetic and lyrical movie.

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