The Oscars are the biggest award that an actor, filmmaker, or screenwriter can ever get for their work, and thus fans tune in large numbers to view the ceremony. While the excitement of having their favorite bag one of the best accolades is there, the excitement is further amplified to witness their other favorites presenting the prestigious awards.
And so, it was this year when Al Pacino, in a surprise move, came out to present the Best Picture award at the 2024 Oscars. However, his presentation instead sparked anger when he did not name the nominations or even used the traditional And the Oscar goes to… line. In a recent interview, an Oscar producer revealed why, and Al Pacino released an apology statement.
Oscar Producer On Al Pacino’s Controversial Oscar Delivery
Suppose you were among the people who had tuned in for yesterday’s Academy Awards. In that case, chances are you might have been disappointed seeing how Al Pacino announced the Best Picture Oscar to Oppenheimer. Without introducing the other equally splendid nominations and without using the traditional way, the Hollywood veteran straight up revealed that it was the atomic bomb flick that had won the biggest award of the night.
While fans have been cruelly blaming and trolling Al Pacino, Oscar producer Molly McNearney, in an exclusive interview with Variety, revealed it was all part of the plan.
“It was a creative decision we made because we were very worried that the show was going to be long. By the time you get to the end of the show, you’ve seen all ten best picture clip packages. People just want to hear who wins, and they’re pretty ready for the show to be over. At least that’s what we anticipated. So, we did not give him a clip package. We did not give him nominations to read. I apologize if our decision to not have to read through all those nominations put him in a tough spot.”
While McNearney also defended the weird way Al Pacino announced the winner citing that it was how live television works, viewers nonetheless are still offended over the moment (via X).
Al Pacino Apologizes Over Oscar Mishap
“Here it comes… And my eyes see… Oppenheimer”, said Al Pacino as he announced Oppenheimer as the winner of the last big prize at the 96 Academy Awards on Monday Night. After his words and presentation caused controversy and criticism, the Godfather star released an apology letter stating (via Variety),
“There seems to be some controversy about my not mentioning every film by name last night before announcing the Best Picture award. I just want to be clear it was not my intention to omit them, rather a choice by the producers not to have them said again since they were highlighted individually throughout the ceremony. I was honored to be a part of the evening and chose to follow the way they wished for this award to be presented.”
Pacino added,
“I realize being nominated is a huge milestone in one’s life and to not be fully recognized is offensive and hurtful. I say this as someone who profoundly relates with filmmakers, actors and producers so I deeply empathize with those who have been slighted by this oversight and it’s why I felt it necessary to make this statement.”
While the controversy surrounding Pacino’s Oscar delivery continues to ruffle up some feathers, this incident will serve as a reminder for future award ceremonies to not only prioritize proper presentation but also acknowledge all nominees.
