Do you remember five years ago when The Oscars accidentally awarded Best Picture to the wrong winner ? Well Salma Hayek sure remembers being there when the wrong envelope was opened and Moonlight he was later revealed as the real winner instead of the previously announced one Land. It was an incredible time, to say the least. And bizarrely, Hayek told Jimmy Kimmel (who hosted the show that year) that he knew something was wrong even before that crazy Oscar moment happened.
If you recall, the audience at the 89th Academy Awards were stunned to see Land producers Jordan Horowitz rushes to the mic to reveal that their romantic musical drama didn’t actually win Best Picture. And it’s probably fair to say that many people looking at home felt the same way. However, Salma Hayek who recently appeared in Jimmy Kimmel Live! he explained that there was a key factor behind the scenes that told him something was wrong:
You know, I saw it coming. I’ve seen it happen before it happened. Because the guy who was in the hallway, one of those people who was like, ‘Yeah, fine, I’ll go get the camera.’ Everyone was watching and I just see him going ‘What?! What should I do? What should I do? I can’t, I can’t tell you. I can’t go on stage. Someone else has to do it. Please don’t make me go up there. what are we doing? Will we see ads? I was so nervous I was like, ‘Oh, that’s not the right winner.
She’s right, because normally there wouldn’t be much hype over the Best Picture Off-Camera winner. While quite funny, Jimmy Kimmel showed a photo that included looking at the Magic Mike’s Last Dance face of the actress during the moment. Frankly, it looked like she was about to explode. Other notable reactions from the Oscar crowd that night it included an enthusiastic-looking Dwayne Johnson, a seemingly heartbroken Meryl Streep, and a grinning Denzel Washington. Watch the clip below:
After the epic Best Picture gaffe, many wondered how hosts Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway could have made the mistake. What actually happened is that they mistakenly received the envelope above for best actress that said Emma Stone Land. The still confused cast of Bonnie and Clyde stared at each other, not knowing what to do, and Dunaway just read the film written on paper. Jimmy Kimmel also shared a fascinating story from his perspective, noting that many have made the mistake of blaming actors when it really wasn’t their fault.
To prevent such bugs from recurring, the Academy has made some important changes. This includes the ticketing partner memorizing the winners and the celebrity host and stage manager checking the envelopes for the correct category. The three ticketing partners now also attend show rehearsals to prepare for any emergencies. Five years later, there have been no more blunders (in terms of drive) attracting the wild and confused expression of stars like Salma Hayek, who has clearly shown that she is an observer.
With Jimmy Kimmel returning to host the 95th Academy Awards on March 12, I wouldn’t be surprised if he referenced that moment of confusion via a witty joke. I hope the show runs smoothly this year. Before that, though, be sure to catch the clever Salma Hayek at the new film’s 2023 premiere. Magic Mike’s Last Dance when it falls on February 10th.
Source: Cinemablend
