Wrong Best Picture Announced at Academy Awards

The Wired Word for the Week of March 5, 2017

In the News

At the end of the Academy Awards ceremony on February 26, 2017, actress Faye Dunaway announced the wrong winner for best picture. The Oscar was given to "La La Land" when the true winner was "Moonlight," creating an awkward and embarrassing moment for everyone involved. The problem was caused by the incorrect category envelope being given to Dunaway and her co-presenter Warren Beatty. After hearing the announcement, the makers of "La La Land" took the stage and began their acceptance speeches.

In a matter of minutes, the Academy Awards producers and accountants corrected the error and invited the makers of "Moonlight" to take the stage and accept their award. Officials with PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accounting firm for the Oscars, apologized for the error and promised to investigate how it happened. Although deeply disappointed, the makers of "La La Land" acted very graciously throughout the incident.

The drama began when Beatty opened the envelope that had been given to him, containing what he thought was the name of the winner for best picture. He looked confused, but Dunaway thought he was fooling around, which is common at the Oscars. She told him that he was being impossible, and the crowd laughed. "Come on!" she said, urging him to give her the envelope. She took it and announced, "La La Land!"

In the audience, the cast and crew of "La La Land" began to hug. But on stage, Beatty said something like, "It says Emma Stone." Dunaway replied, "What?" They had been given the envelope that said "Emma Stone, La La Land," which was intended for the best actress award that had been given just moments before. The mix-up was highly unusual, since Oscar staffers usually check presenters before they walk out to confirm that they have the correct envelope.

Unfortunately, the makers of "La La Land" were already on stage, with producers Jordan Horowitz and Marc Platt delivering their acceptance speeches. Suddenly, a man with a headset began to talk with several people, as did one of the accountants in charge of counting the Oscar ballots. This accountant was one of only two people who knew all of the winners before the show started. According to USA Today, a stagehand began to say, "'Moonlight' won. 'Moonlight' won."

After a hasty conference, producer Horowitz delivered the bad news to his "La La Land" team. "Guys, guys, I'm sorry. ... There's a mistake," he said. "'Moonlight,' you guys won best picture."

The crowd was shocked, as were millions of TV viewers. Stunned silence in the auditorium quickly turned into a standing ovation. "This is not a joke," Horowitz said. "'Moonlight' has won best picture." He then held up the card that proved it: "'Moonlight' ... Best Picture."

Cameras then focused on the cast members of "Moonlight" in the audience, now hugging each other. Host Jimmy Kimmel turned to Horowitz and said, "I would like to see you get an Oscar anyway." But Horowitz declined, saying, "I'm going to be really proud to hand this to my friends from 'Moonlight.'"

Trying to sort out the confusion, Warren Beatty explained, "I opened the envelope and it said, 'Emma Stone, La La Land.' That's why I took such a long look at Faye ... I wasn't trying to be funny."

The cast of "Moonlight" arrived on stage, and director Barry Jenkins said, "Very clearly, even in my dreams this could not be true." Then he turned to the "La La Land" team and said, "We've been on the road with these guys for so long, and that was so gracious, and so generous of them. My love to 'La La Land,' my love to everybody."

Closing out the show, Kimmel said, "Well, I don't know what happened; I blame myself for this ... Let's remember, it's just an awards show. I mean, we hate to see people disappointed, but the good news is, we got to see some extra speeches. ... Thank you for watching. ... I promise I'll never come back. Good night."

On Monday, PricewaterhouseCoopers issued a statement which said, "We are deeply sorry for the disappointment suffered by the cast and crew of 'La La Land' and 'Moonlight.' We sincerely apologize to Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Jimmy Kimmel, ABC, and the Academy, none of whom was at fault for last night's errors. ... For the past 83 years, the Academy has entrusted [us] with the integrity of the awards process during the ceremony, and last night we failed the Academy."

More on this story can be found at these links:

The Minute-by-Minute Breakdown of the Shocking 'Moonlight'/'La La Land' Best Picture Mix-Up. The Washington PostOscars 2017: Every Crazy Thing We Saw Backstage -- Including THAT Flub. USA TodayAcademy, Oscar Accountants Offer More Apologies; Investigation Launched. Yahoo! Movies

The Big Questions

1. The "La La Land" team was deeply disappointed by their failure to win best picture. How does your Christian faith help you deal with disappointment?

2. When dreams are dashed by a sudden turn of events, we can feel shocked and defeated. How do you put such losses in perspective? What helps you pick yourself up and move on?

3. "La La Land" producer Jordan Horowitz showed tremendous grace when it was revealed that his movie had not won. When have you been challenged to be gracious in defeat?

4. The "Moonlight" cast and crew were deprived of the kind of experience most winners expect. Instead of elation, they felt disappointment, confusion and then joy. How have you responded in situations in which your expectations were confounded?

5. The Academy Awards accountants quickly accepted responsibility for the error that led to the wrong winner being announced. When have you had to make a public admission of responsibility? Beyond such an admission, what further steps need to be taken?

6. What did you find noteworthy about the attitudes of the winners and losers of the best picture Oscar? Where are there lessons in this story for your own victories and defeats?

Confronting the News With Scripture and HopeHere are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:

Genesis 29:25When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"(For context, read 29:15-35.)

Jacob falls in love with Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban. He serves Laban for seven years to be given Rachel as his wife. But when it comes time for them to be married, Laban tricks Jacob by sending his older daughter Leah into the groom's tent. Jacob feels deceived,but agrees to serve Laban another seven years in order to have Rachel as his second wife.

Questions: When have you worked hard for something and then had it taken away from you? How have you made peace with your situation? What have you done to gain satisfaction after a disappointment?

1 Samuel 4:10So the Philistines fought; Israel was defeated, and they fled, everyone to his home. There was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. (For context, read 4:1-11.)

In the time of Samuel the prophet, the people of Israel are doing battle with the Philistines. After Israel loses 4,000 men in battle, the elders of Israel ask, "Why has the LORD put us to rout today before the Philistines?" (v. 3). They assume it is because the ark of the covenant is not with them, so they bring the ark into the camp. Confident the Lord is now in their midst, they give a mighty shout. This causes the Philistines to become afraid, but instead of fleeing, they muster their courage and fight the Israelites even more fiercely. The result is Israel's severe defeat.

Questions: When have you felt God was in your midst? What kind of victory, if any, does the presence of God guarantee? What lessons has God taught you through defeat?

Proverbs 28:13No one who conceals transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.(No context needed.)

People sometimes justify deception by saying, "What they don't know won't hurt them." The book of Proverbs would disagree. In this verse, the reader is warned that the hiding of errors is never a profitable course of action. Instead, admitting and turning away from transgressions leads to a good result.

Questions: When have you been tempted to hide an error? What was the result? What have you found to be the outcome of making a full confession or apology?

Romans 3:22-24For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (For context, read 3:21-26.)

The apostle Paul is convinced that we are all made right with God through our faith in Jesus Christ. We need this, since we have all "sinned and fall short," every single one of us. God's grace comes to us as a completely free and undeserved gift.

Questions: How is your relationship with others changed by the knowledge that all of us are sinners? When have you experienced grace, from God or from another person? What was your reaction to this gracious act?

Philippians 2:3-4Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.(For context, read 2:1-11.)

Paul encourages us to put others' interests before our own, citing the example of Jesus, who "emptied himself, taking the form of a slave" (v. 7). But the humility of Jesus had an unexpected outcome -- one in which God "highly exalted him" (v. 9). In similar manner, our willingness to turn away from selfish ambition can lead to God's approval.

Questions: When have you put the interests of others before your own, and what was the result? What is the place of humility in a world that seems to reward selfish ambition? Describe a time you were happy for others when they reached their dreams, even though you failed to win. How did you feel about that experience?

For Further Discussion

1. The Academy Awards error raises the issue of accountability. What consequences should be imposed? How would you discipline the responsible individuals or the accounting firm as a whole?

2. A large number of people were embarrassed by the Oscars flub, well beyond the individuals who caused the error. When have you been publicly embarrassed? How did you get through that uncomfortable experience?

3. "La La Land" producer Jordan Horowitz told The Washington Post, "That moment on stage was not about anything but moving the spotlight to where it should have rightfully been. ... I try to operate from a place of doing what's right on a moment-to-moment basis ... There was a real breakdown of process, and setting it right was in my mind the only option. ... There needed to be some real definitive clarity and truth in that moment." When have you moved "the spotlight" away from yourself to another person, and why did you do it? What kind of courage does it take to put your feelings aside and focus on "clarity and truth"?

4. Where do you see a need for more truth-telling in the church, your community and our country as a whole?

5. Although Hollywood is often portrayed as a place of selfish ambition and immorality, the behavior of this year's best picture winners and losers revealed humility and graciousness. How has your impression of Hollywood been changed, if at all? What does this story teach you about the human spirit?

Responding to the News

In our highly competitive world, we can all find ways to be more supportive of others in their victories, and more gracious in our own defeats. In the week to come, look for ways to show Christ-like humility and to support the interests of others.

Closing Prayer

Almighty God, you are always gracious to us, although we do not deserve it. Help us to show your grace toward others, even when we suffer setbacks and disappointments. In Jesus' name. Amen.