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'Moonlight' wins best picture Oscar after baffling on-stage flub

<p>Warren Beatty is confused. And you're about to be, too. </p><p>"And the Academy Award … for best picture ...'La La Land'!" exclaimed Beatty and co-presenter Faye Dunaway.</p><p>The Oscar for best picture literally went to "La La Land" … until it didn't.</p><p>In what could only be described as a cluster****, Beatty and Dunaway pulled a Steve Harvey when the duo read the wrong envelope. While the cast and crew of "La La Land" were mid-giving thanks, they quickly gave the audience an apology.</p><p>"What? No! Guys. I'm sorry. There's a mistake! 'Moonlight.' You guys won best picture," explained "La La Land" producer Jordan Horowitz.</p><p>We will continue to investigate what the hell is going on. But we promise the rest of the night was more predictable and filled with the expected Mel Gibson bashing.</p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/stars-wear-blue-aclu-ribbons-at-the-oscars/">The Political Statement Stars Made On The Oscars Red Carpet</a></b></p><p>"There's only one brave heart in the room, and he's not going to unite us, either," joked host Jimmy Kimmel. </p><p>And the current political climate outshined the stars in the room. It led to some live-tweeting at President Donald Trump, but Hollywood managed to pass out a few statues in the process. </p><p>"La La Land" tied the record for the most nominations ever with 14 nods and took home six awards — including best director and a best actress win for Emma Stone. </p><p>"I'm gonna hug the hell out of you when the feeling re-enters my body," Stone said to her friends upon winning.</p><p>Casey Affleck also took home the Oscar for best actor for his role in "Manchester by the Sea." But the spotlight seemed to be on celebrating diversity in film after the past two years resulted in zero nominations for actors of color in the top acting categories. </p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/constance-wu-slams-casey-affleck-s-oscar-nomination/">Should Casey Affleck's Harassment Suit Prevent His Oscar Nomination?</a></b></p><p>Mahershala Ali took home the award for best supporting actor for his role in "Moonlight" — making him the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-oscars-2017-89th-academy-awards-mahershala-ali-is-the-first-muslim-to-1488162246-htmlstory.html" target="_blank">first Muslim actor</a> ever to win an Oscar.</p><p>Viola Davis won best supporting actress for her role in "Fences." The win made her the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/viola-davis-triple-crown_us_58b05b5de4b060480e073ce7" target="_blank">first black actor</a> to earn the "triple crown" of acting — an honor received by winning an Oscar, Emmy and Tony.</p><p>But none of it could be as exciting as Denzel Washington becoming an honorary best man to a couple on a spontaneous tour group, Jimmy Kimmel pulling a Simba with Sunny Pawar as candy fell from the sky, and Michael J. Fox and Seth Rogen bringing us back to the future with a "Hamilton" reference.</p><p>It seemed Hollywood wanted to remind us that what makes us all the same is that we're all different and that we're all prone to messing things up royally.</p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/moonlight-wins-best-picture-at-the-oscars-in-major-upset/">Not Fake News: 'Moonlight' Won Best Picture At The Oscars</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/stars-wear-blue-aclu-ribbons-at-the-oscars/">The Political Statement Stars Made On The Oscars Red Carpet</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/jordan-peele-s-get-out-manages-30-5m-debut/">Jordan Peele's 'Get Out' Takes Critics And The Box Office By Storm</a></li></ul>
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 It's an Oscar moment that will go down in history.

Not only did "Moonlight" pull out a surprise win over "La La Land" for best picture, but their big moment came after presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway accidentally announced the wrong winner.

They initially announced "La La Land" as best picture.

The cast and producers from "La La Land" had already taken the stage and began their acceptance speeches when they learned "Moonlight was the actual winner.

RELATED: Photos: 89th Oscars at Dolby Theatre

Host Jimmy Kimmel took the stage to explain the mistake as the crew from "La La Land" exited and the news sunk in for the "Moonlight" cast and producers.

"Guys, this is very unfortunate what happened," Kimmel said. "I would love to see you get an Oscar anyway. Why don't we just give out a whole bunch of them?"

Beatty then took the mic to explain "La La Land" was mistakenly announced because he and Dunaway received an envelope that had Emma Stone's name on the card.

"That's why I took such a long look at Faye....I wasn't trying to be funny," Beatty explained.

Backstage, Stone claimed she had the card that announced her as best actress win "the entire time."

"I don't mean to start stuff," she said. "But whatever story that was ... I had that card. I'm not sure what happened."

Stone added that she was "so excited" for "Moonlight."

"I think it's one of the best films of all time," she said.

'Moonlight' director: My love to 'La La Land'

"Moonlight" director Barry Jenkins, already a winner in the best adapted screenplay category, was the first to speak after explanations were made.

"Very clearly, even in my dreams this could not be true," he said.

Jenkins thanked the cast and producers from "La La Land" for being "gracious" and "generous."

"My love to 'La La Land,'" he said.

"La La Land" had been an early favorite to win in the category, but the shift in tides of award season in recent weeks had led some to predict "Moonlight" could pull an upset.

The coming-of-age drama took home two other awards, including one for Mahershala Ali.

Kimmel closed out the night saying, "I blame myself for this... I knew I would screw this show up, I really did."

Accountancy firm investigating mix-up

PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accountancy firm that is responsible for winners' envelopes, issued an apology for the mistake and said it was "immediately corrected."

"We sincerely apologize to 'Moonlight,' 'La La Land,' Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, and Oscar viewers for the error that was made during the award announcement for Best Picture," it said in a statement.

"The presenters had mistakenly been given the wrong category envelope and when discovered, was immediately corrected. We are currently investigating how this could have happened, and deeply regret that this occurred.

"We appreciate the grace with which the nominees, the Academy, ABC, and Jimmy Kimmel handled the situation."