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Oscars 2017: Wacky conspiracy theories after La La Land was wrongly named Best Picture

THE Oscars’ accountants took the blame for the Best Picture mix-up, but that hasn’t stopped conspiracy theorists from weighing in.

Staff writers
less than 2 min read
February 28, 2017 - 11:48AM
News Corp Australia Network
Oscars 2017: Red Carpet Fashion Review

THERE’S just one thing people love more than a monumental bungle on live television — conspiracy theories about how it happened.

The final moments of the 2017 Academy Awards were rocked by arguably the biggest stuff-up in Oscars history: The wrong film had been awarded Best Picture.

Veteran actors Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway handed the golden statue to the stars of La La Land before an accountant from PricewaterhouseCoopers, who oversees the ballot-counting process, ran onstage to fix the mistake.

La La Land producer Jordan Horowitz, actor Warren Beatty and host Jimmy Kimmel tried to fix up the bungle. Picture: AFP/Mark Ralston
La La Land producer Jordan Horowitz, actor Warren Beatty and host Jimmy Kimmel tried to fix up the bungle. Picture: AFP/Mark Ralston

Beatty and Dunaway had been given the envelope and card for the best actress category, which read “Emma Stone, ‘La La Land’.”

Although PricewaterhouseCoopers took responsibility for the snafu, eagle-eyed viewers have floated their own theories about what went wrong.

Timeline: The 2017 Oscars TV gaffe in pictures
Warren Beatty exits the stage after announcing the award for best picture at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
VIEW GALLERY

Star style

1. LEONARDO DICAPRIO GOT HIS REVENGE

Some viewers noticed that Leonardo DiCaprio, who presented Emma Stone with her Best Actress Oscar for La La Land, didn’t give the actress her card when she won.

She was later photographed holding the card, which is possible as there are actually two envelopes prepped for each award.

Leonardo DiCaprio presented Emma Stone with the Best Actress Oscar. Picture: Christopher Polk/Getty Images/AFP
Leonardo DiCaprio presented Emma Stone with the Best Actress Oscar. Picture: Christopher Polk/Getty Images/AFP

But some viewers have bizarrely suggested DiCaprio sabotaged the Best Picture announcement by handing Beatty the Best Actress card.

They claimed DiCaprio was getting revenge for having to wait until 2016 to clinch his own Oscar.

Red carpet highlights

2. IT WAS A MEAN JIMMY KIMMEL PRANK

The late-night host is famous for his pranks and hoaxes, so perhaps this was a way to make his first go at hosting the Oscars a bit more memorable?

3. MATT DAMON WAS PRANKING JIMMY KIMMEL

Kimmel teased actor Damon mercilessly throughout the ceremony, extending their years-long friendly feud.

“Tonight, in the spirit of healing and bringing people together, I would like to bury the hatchet with someone I’ve had issues with — Matt Damon,” Kimmel said during the show.

“I’ve known Matt for a long time now, I’ve known Matt so long when I first met Matt, I was the fat one. True.”

He then went on to tell the audience about the issues they have had, calling him “a selfish person” but then added: “He did something very unselfish and I want to commend him for it.”

Maybe Damon was getting the last laugh?

4. PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING ELSE

Inside the ceremony

Originally published as Oscars 2017: Wacky conspiracy theories after La La Land was wrongly named Best Picture

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/awards/oscars/oscars-2017-wacky-conspiracy-theories-after-la-la-land-was-wrongly-named-best-picture/news-story/718ec8f0080f9f6bd96db72814eed447