‘La La Land’ Producer on Best-Picture Mess: ‘Awards Come and Go’

“La La Land” producer Jordan Horowitz, who announced that “Moonlight” was the real winner, takes us inside the moment he realized he hadn’t won

Jordan Horowitz Barry Jenkins Oscars
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“La La Land” producer Jordan Horowitz is the man who told the world that his film hadn’t really won the Oscar for Best Picture — and that “Moonlight” was the real winner. About an hour later, he told TheWrap how he felt in that moment.

“It was chaos up there,” he told TheWrap. “I just saw the envelope … and they won. You know? So I took it and corrected it … set the record straight. What are you gonna do?”

The “La La Land” producers were deep into their award speech Sunday night when everyone realized that Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway had named the wrong winners for Best Picture. (You can read about how it happened here.)

“This is not a joke. ‘Moonlight’ has won Best Picture,” Horowitz announced from the stage.

Horowitz told TheWrap he was doing OK, despite the tumultuous turn of events.

“I was glad it was the ‘Moonlight’ people because we’ve spent a lot of time together,” he said.

He added: “Awards are awards, man … It doesn’t take away from what we did. Or the work of anybody. Awards come and go.”

Especially this award. Especially this year.

“Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins also had kind words for the “Moonlight” team. (Horowitz is pictured above handing the award to Jenkins, and the pair can be seen hugging it out after the show, below.)

“The folks from ‘La La Land’ were so gracious,” Jenkins said. “I can’t imagine being in their position and having to do that.”

Jordan Horowitz and Barry Jenkins large

 

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