Al Pacino has explained one of the most controversial moments of this year’s Oscars after appearing to make a slip-up while presenting the best picture award.
The accolade is given out last at the Academy Awards and Pacino, 83, was tasked with announcing Oppenheimer as winner at Sunday night’s Los Angeles ceremony.
While The Godfather star avoided an error on the level of the Oscars’ infamous La La Land confusion of 2017, he did draw criticism for seemingly forgetting to announce the 10 nominees before the winner.
However, Pacino has now released a statement saying that while the moment was “offensive and hurtful,” it was completely intentional.
Rather than listing the best film nominees in one go, the Oscars featured standalone tributes to each movie, with the VTs staggered throughout the three-and-a-half-hour show.
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Pacino said: “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 honoured to be a part of the evening and chose to follow the way they wished for this award to be presented,” he continued.
“I realise being nominated is a huge milestone in one’s life and to not be fully recognised is offensive and hurtful.”
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The Oppenheimer cast and crew accepting the best film award. Pic: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
Pacino concluded that as someone who “profoundly relates with filmmakers, actors and producers,” he “deeply empathise[s] with those who have been slighted by this oversight.”
“It’s why I felt it necessary to make this statement,” he said.
Oppenheimer was the big winner at Sunday night’s ceremony as Christopher Nolan’s biopic of the atomic bomb inventor won seven gongs, including best actor, best director and best film.
Highlights from the ceremony included Ryan Gosling delivering a huge dose of Kenergy as he performed his Barbie soundtrack hit and Anatomy of a Fall’s four-legged star Messi nearly stealing the show.