Academy Issues a Statement on the Best Picture Mix-Up: ‘We Deeply Regret the Mistakes That Were Made’

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has issued a statement in response to Sunday night’s mix-up in which presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were given the wrong envelope and incorrectly announced that ‘La La Land’ was the recipient of the Best Picture prize when it was supposed to go to ‘Moonlight.’

After both producers Jordan Horowitz and Marc Platt gave their acceptance speeches for ‘La La Land,’ the error was corrected in one of the most shocking moments in Academy Awards history.

Here is the Academy’s statement in full:

We deeply regret the mistakes that were made during the presentation of the Best Picture category during last night’s Oscar ceremony. We apologize to the entire cast and crew of La La Land and Moonlight whose experience was profoundly altered by this error. We salute the tremendous grace they displayed under the circumstances. To all involved — including our presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, the filmmakers, and our fans watching worldwide — we apologize.

For the last 83 years, the Academy has entrusted PwC to handle the critical tabulation process, including the accurate delivery of results. PwC has taken full responsibility for the breaches of established protocols that took place during the ceremony. We have spent last night and today investigating the circumstances, and will determine what actions are appropriate going forward. We are unwaveringly committed to upholding the integrity of the Oscars and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Earlier Monday, accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers accepted “full responsibility” for the mistake, saying that one of two accountants on-site at the Academy Awards had mistakenly handed the wrong envelope to presenters Dunaway and Warren Beatty.

They received the best actress envelope, which had La La Land actress Emma Stone listed as the winner, instead of best picture.