Feb. 27 (UPI) — “Moonlight” was named Best Picture at the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles Sunday after presenters Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty announced “La La Land” had won the top prize.
The cast and creative team behind “La La Land” took the stage and began giving their acceptance speeches when the error was called to light.
Several moments of confusion ensued before host Jimmy Kimmel appeared and confirmed: “This is very unfortunate what happened. Personally, I blame Steve Harvey for this. … Warren, what did you do?”
“I wanted to tell you what happened. I opened the envelope and it said, ‘Emma Stone, La La Land.’ That’s why I took such a long look at Faye and at you. I wasn’t trying to be funny,” Beatty said, insisting he had been given Stone’s Best Actress envelope.
Holding up another card, he read, “This is “Moonlight,” the Best Picture.”
Barry Jenkins, who earlier won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, then accepted the night’s biggest award.
“Very clearly, even in my dreams, this could not be true. But to hell with dreams. I’m done with it, because this is true,” Jenkins said. “Oh, my goodness!”
The film also earned the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Mahershala Ali.
And the Oscar goes to…
