10 Biggest Oscar Goofs Of All Time

Even if you’re only slightly interested in cinema, you probably keep a watchful eye on the Oscars when they roll around each year. Although the merit and credibility of the Academy Awards has been debated substantially, they now carry such social and political weight within the industry that they’re almost impossible to ignore.

Of course, the lead up to this year’s ceremony was dominated by one story. Two films were vying for the Academy’s most prestigious gongs: La La Land, Damien Chazelle’s jazz musical hit, which had received a tidal wave of audience backlash following initially glowing reviews, and Moonlight, Barry Jenkins’ coming-of-identity drama that was being pushed hard by many viewers and critics following 2016’s ‘Oscars So White’ controversy.

This all culminated in one of the biggest ‘swerves’ in Oscars history. Moonlight achieved the upset win, but not after the award was initially handed to Jordan Horowitz and co. for La La Land. In a moment of unintentional Steve Harvey-ing, Award presenter Warren Beatty accidentally read out the wrong envelope, and La La Land’s crew had to be cut off mid-speech so that the award could be handed to its rightful winners.

This is hardly the first time the Oscars have caused controversy, nor will it be the last. The ceremony has quite a history when it comes to outshining its nominees through regrettable gaffes, one that stretches back to the Golden Age of Cinema.

Although the aforementioned Moonlight-La La Land debacle will live on as perhaps the most shocking Oscars fumble in history, and undoubtedly the most memorable moment from this year’s ceremony, it’s not the only thing to go awry at the 89th Awards.

This year’s ‘In Memoriam’ segment seemed slightly more gut-wrenching than those of previous years, considering 2016’s unshakeable reputation as ‘The Year of the Dead Celebrity’, but it was perhaps more tragic for Australian producer Jan Chapman, who literally watched her own memorial play out in front of her.

While attempting to honour four-time Oscar nominated costume designer Janet Patterson, the Oscars’ big screen instead displayed a photograph of Chapman, who is still very much alive, and was a frequent collaborator of Patterson’s.

While they’re not unfamiliar with snubs and foul-ups, the AMPAS generally tend to be a little more careful when it comes to paying respects to deceased industry workers. Chapman was unsurprisingly shocked by the ordeal, telling Variety:

“I was devastated by the use of my image in place of my great friend and long-time collaborator Janet Patterson. I had urged her agency to check any photograph which might be used and understand that they were told that the Academy had it covered. Janet was a great beauty and four-time Oscar nominee and it is very disappointing that the error was not picked up.”