“Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins had nothing but praise for the way the “La La Land” team handed over the Best Picture statuettes after an Oscar screwup of historic proportions.
“The folks from ‘La La Land’ were so gracious,” Jenkins said. “I can’t imagine being in their position and having to do that.”
The disaster unfurled when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway read out “La La Land,” as the Best Picture winner. Moments later, apologies abounded as ceremony host Jimmy Kimmel, Beatty and others explained that in fact “Moonlight” had won.
The “La La Land” winners stepped aside, and Beatty explained that he thought he and co-presenter Faye Dunaway had gotten the wrong envelope. (Oscars accounting firm PwC later apologized, saying the wrong envelope had indeed made its way into Beatty and Dunaway’s hands.)
Jenkins said when “La La Land” was first named as the Best Picture, he was fine with it.
“I think all the movies that were nominated were worthy, so I accepted the result,” he said. “I noticed the commotion and realized something strange had occurred — I was speechless. It made a special feeling even more special, but not in the way I expected.”
Jenkins also said he received no further explanation for the error beyond the explanation Beatty gave to TV viewers saw.
“Things just happen, you know,” he said. “I will say I saw two cards. Things just happen, you know. I wanted to see the card to see the card. And Warren refused to show the card to anybody before he showed it to me.”