Moonlight, the Barry Jenkin’s directed film about the coming of age of a gay black teenager, wins an Oscar in the weirdest way possible. The Academy Awards did all they could to present the Best Picture accolade to La La Land.
#Oscars shocker: Warren Beatty reads the wrong Best Picture winner, 'La La Land' didn't win — 'Moonlight' did. pic.twitter.com/iB6TLxyTn5
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 27, 2017
The actor Warren Beatty looked weirded out by the card. The La La Land makers and cast rushed out to claim their awards. Director Jordan Horowitz and producers Fred Berger and Marc Platt read out their acceptance speeches. Then Jordan Horowitz, in what must have felt like the worst moment of his life, said ‘No, guys, wait, there’s a mistake. Moonlight, you guys won best picture.’
‘This is not a joke, Moonlight has won best picture.’
Warren Beatty then came back on stage ‘I want to tell you what happened. I open the envelope. 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. This is Moonlight, the Best Picture’.
Warren Beatty & Faye Dunaway outside #Oscars right now waiting for person responsible for #AcademyAwards envelopes. #MoonlightMovie pic.twitter.com/D7EaP1K8y9
— Don Bradshaw (@DonBradshawNTV) February 27, 2017
We don’t want to overshadow this win, but the faces of cast and actors backstage were priceless as people realised what had actually happened.
Yall look at the behind the scenes of the #Moonlight cast finding out! Wowww #Oscars pic.twitter.com/51MibS4V2a
— Above the Clouds (@SimplyYoso) February 27, 2017
Meryl Streep’s face said it all:
https://twitter.com/magicrobins/status/836093587720921088
Trevante, one of the actors who portrayed the main character in Moonlight, replaced Winona as King of Memes:
Trevante Rhodes realizing Moonlight won Best Picture: A short story. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/qBpkFGpTUH
— Deniz S. (@MrFilmkritik) February 27, 2017
Then look at Taraji:
https://twitter.com/biquakes/status/836095165739606017
The crowd (spot David Oyelowo’s ‘I knew this would happen’ face):
Faces in the crowd as “Moonlight” was named best picture. In a bewildering end to the show, “La La Land” was first announced as the winner. pic.twitter.com/7bgEd3Vecj
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 27, 2017
Whoops from the official counters:
— PwC US (@PwCUS) February 27, 2017
And Mahershala Ali was unfailingly graceful:
Mahershala Ali's response to the Best Picture mix-up at the #Oscars is as humble and human as the man himself. #Moonlight pic.twitter.com/1Jmibx6I9G
— Erik Anderson (@awards_watch) February 27, 2017