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The Oscars Accidentally Named ‘La La Land’ Best Picture When ‘Moonlight’ Was the Actual Winner

Once we arrived at the end of the near four-hour Oscars telecast, I thought there weren’t many surprises left in store, especially after La La Land was announced as Best Picture winner. But as the film’s producers made their acceptance speeches, confusion erupted onstage. It turns out La La Land was mistakenly named the winner in this category when the actual winner was Moonlight.

I know what you’re thinking. How did this happen? Well, it seems presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were given the wrong envelope. The one they received read, “Emma Stone, La La Land.” So Dunaway announced La La Land as the Best Picture winner, although the top prize was meant for Moonlight.

Eventually, host Jimmy Kimmel intervened, and the Moonlight cast and crew came on stage to accept their award. 

Although this was an honest mistake, it was absolutely heartbreaking to watch. Maybe the Academy will honor Kimmel’s suggestion and let both films take home statues?

Erin was previously the Entertainment Editor of Her Campus. She graduated from Belmont University in 2015, where she studied English and Elementary Education. Before joining the team full-time, she was a national contributing blogger, viral content writer and editorial intern at HC. In addition to her work for Her Campus, Erin was formerly an editorial assistant at Nfocus Magazine and has been published by HelloGiggles and Man Repeller. In her free time, you can find Erin falling for yet another TV boyfriend (her long list of ex-lovers includes Nathan Scott, Chuck Bass and Pacey Witter, to name a few), reading chick lit and/or celeb memoirs and hanging with her puppy/soulmate, Cooper.