In a recent discussion, Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps reflected on the unforgettable moment during the 2017 Oscars when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway mistakenly announced the wrong winner for Best Picture. The incident, which occurred while the producers of “La La Land” were delivering their acceptance speech, has since become a notable part of Academy Awards history.
Beatty and Dunaway added confusion and controversy when they announced the Best Picture winner. Because as you surely remember, they accidentally declared “La La Land” the winner instead of the actual winner, “Moonlight.” Even as the La La Land team celebrated on stage, they were among the first to know something had gone wrong. Pricewaterhouse Coopers accountant Brian Cullinan was the one to take the Academy stage to discuss the gaffe. His timely intervention produced an uncomfortable, yet deeply memorable moment for TV audiences and those in the room.
Busy Philipps and Michelle Williams sat front row through this ridiculousness. Both of them painted a vivid picture of that experience, with Philipps remembering the palpable sense of fear in that room.
“We knew, cause we were right there in the front row,” she stated, emphasizing how close they were to the unfolding drama.
As he was observing that train wreck of an event transpire, Philipps said, tongue in cheek, to the man seated next to her on the red carpet—Ben Affleck. She faced the vice president and shouted, “Get up and do something!” This comment was in reference to Affleck’s portrayal as Batman in several films, most notably the 2017 theatrical cut of “Justice League.”
And then you found yourself going to him and saying, ‘Do something! Do something! It was ridiculous,” Williams continued, remembering how they laughed and squeezed each other during the ordeal. Affleck was allegedly zeroing in on Matt Damon, who was sitting directly behind Casey Affleck.
Philipps and Williams then re-created a now-famous photo from that evening on Philipps’ show. They were kidding themselves that their limited budget never would have been able to afford a shot with Affleck in it anyway.
I don’t know Ben Affleck, and I’ve never met him, Philipps concluded. She clarified that what happened between them in that crazy moment was purely an instinctive response, rather than a bond between the two.
The envelope switcheroo at the Oscars is a recent example that still haunts anyone who witnessed it. This reminds viewers of the unpredictability of live television while juxtaposing the power of shared experiences to foster solidarity between those who create entertainment.
