400 - Word Forum Post - Business Class
Here ’s t he e le v ato r p it c h: “ The S o cia l N etw ork ” m eets “ T he O sc a r” m eets “ T he
A cco u n ta n t.”
The w orst m ix -u p i n t he hi sto ry o f t h e A ca de my A w ards r e su lt e d fr o m a di sa str o u s
co lli s io n o f H olly w ood, s o cia l m edi a a n d an a cco u n tin g f ir m .
A m an agin g p artn er a t P ric e w ate rh ou se C oop ers L LP m is ta k en ly h an de d pre se n te r
W arre n B eatt y a n e n ve lo p e o n S u n da y n ig ht c o n ta in in g t h e n am e o f b est- a ctr e ss w in n er
E m ma S to n e, i n ste ad of t he e n ve lo p e w it h b est- p ic tu re w in ner “ M oon li g h t.” A s a r e su lt ,
M r. B eatt y ’s c o -p re se n te r, F ay e D un aw ay, a n nou n ce d “L a L a L an d, ” i n w hi ch M s. S to n e
sta rre d, a s b est p ic tu re .
J u st m in ute s b efo re he g a v e M r. B eatt y t h e w ro n g e n ve lo p e, B ria n C ulli n an , o n e o f t w o
Pw C p artn ers w ork in g b ack sta g e a t t h e s h ow , t w eete d a g la m oro u s p h oto o f t h e a ctr e ss.
“ B est A ctr e ss E m ma S to n e b ack sta g e! # PW C!” he p oste d, a lo n g w it h t h e p h oto , a t 9 :0 5
p.m . P acif ic t im e. A bou t t hr ee m in ute s l a te r, M r. B eatt y a n d M s. D un aw ay w alk ed on
sta g e t o a n nou n ce t he e v e n in g’s t o p p riz e .
M r. C ulli n an ’s b ack sta g e T w it t e r a ctiv it y w asn ’t s a n ctio n ed by t he A ca de my, a cco rdi ng
to a p ers o n f a m ili a r w it h the m att e r. H e’d so u gh t p erm is sio n t o p ost t o s o cia l m edi a
du rin g t he s ho w, b u t ha d been t u rn ed do wn, t h is p ers o n a dde d, b eca u se h is j o b w as o n ly
This copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only . To order presentationready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers visit
http://www .djreprints.com.
https://www .wsj.com/articles/pwcpartnerinchargeofoscarwinnerenvelopeswastweetingbackstageminutesbeforebestpicturemixup1488227883
FIL M
P w C P artn er a t Os ca rs T w eete d
Ba ck sta ge M in ute s B efo re B est
P ic ture M ix -U p
Bria n C ullin an p oste d p hoto o f B est A ctre ss w in ner E m ma S to n e j u st b efo re g iv in g w ro n g
en ve lo p e t o B est P ic tu re p re se n te r W arre n B eatty
Representatives from PricewaterhouseCoopers, from left, Martha L. Ruiz, Brian Cullinan and actor Ryan Gosling attend the
Academy A wards on Sunday . PHOTO: CHRIST OPHER POLK/GETTY IMAGES
Update d F e b . 2 7, 2 01 7 8 :00 p .m . E T
B y B EN F R IT Z ,M IC HA EL R A PO PO RT a n d ER IC H SC HW ART Z EL to di str ib u te a n d ve rif y t he e n ve lo p es
co n ta in in g t he c lo se ly g u arde d nam es o f
w in ners.
M r. C ulli n an l a te r de le te d the t w eet,
a p pare n tly o n M on da y m orn in g. T he
W all S tr e et J o u rn al r e v ie w ed co p ie s,
in clu di ng a v e rs io n p u bli c ly a cce ssib le o n G oogle ’s s e rv e rs.
M r. C ulli n an p oste d othe r p ho to s o n T w it t e r du rin g t h e a w ards s h ow t h at w ere a ls o
a p pare n tly de le te d, s a id a p ers o n w it h k n ow le dg e o f t h e m att e r.
M r. C ulli n an , a t o p -r a n kin g e x ecu tiv e i n P w C’s L .A . o ffic e di dn ’t r e sp on d to e m ails
r e q u estin g c o m men t.
The A ca de my i s c u rre n tly r e v ie w in g t h e e n tir e b ack sta g e p ro ce ss a n d Pw C’s r o le i n i t ,
a cco rdi ng t o a n othe r p ers o n f a m ili a r w it h t h e m att e r.
“ Thi s w as o u r i s su e. P w C m ade t h e e rro r, a n d we’r e a cco u n ta b le ,” s a id Tim R yan , P w C’s
U .S . c ha ir m an , i n a n i n te rv ie w w it h t h e J o u rn al.
M r. R yan ha s s p oken t o M r. C ulli n an , w ho “ do esn ’t b eli e v e t h at a t w eet c a u se d th e
erro r,” he s a id. H e a dde d tha t M r. C ulli n an s a id he f e els “ h orrib le , a b so lu te ly
ho rrib le .”
I t t o ok a b ou t t w o m in ute s a ft e r M s. D un aw ay a n nou n ce d th e w ro n g m ovie f o r M r.
C ulli n an a n d M artha R uiz , a n othe r P w C p artn er w ho w ork s o n t h e O sc a rs, t o r u sh o n
sta g e w it h the c o rre ct e n ve lo p e n am in g “ M oon li g h t.” T w o “ L a L a L an d” p ro du ce rs h ad
a lr e ady g iv e n t he ir a cce p ta n ce s p eech es a n d a t h ir d was b egin nin g.
M r. C ulli n an a n d M s. R uiz ha d m em oriz e d th e w in ners, s o t h ey k n ew a m is ta k e h ad been
m ade , a n d M s. R uiz do uble -c he ck ed a c o p y o f t h e b est- p ic tu re e n ve lo p e t o c o n fir m t h at
b efo re t he y w en t o n s ta g e. M r. R yan , P w C’s U .S . c h air m an , s a id M on da y t h at h e w ou ld
ha ve l i k ed the r e sp on se t o ha ve b een q u ic k er, b u t i n t h e h eat a n d ch ao s o f t h e m om en t,
o n a l i v e TV b ro adc ast, t he P w C p artn ers “ re acte d as q u ic k a s t h ey c o u ld. ”
Late r M on da y, P w C s a id tha t o n ce t h e e rro r o ccu rre d, “ p ro to co ls f o r c o rre ctin g i t w ere
n ot f o llo w ed thr ou gh qu ic k ly e n ou gh b y M r. C ulli n an o r h is p artn er.” T he f ir m di dn ’t
e la b ora te .
M s. R uiz c o u ldn ’t b e r e ache d fo r c o m men t.
The m is ta k e w as a b la ck e y e f o r P w C, w hic h h as h an dl ed Aca de my A w ard ta b u la tio n s
sin ce 1 9 35 a n d aggre ssiv e ly p ro m ote s i t s r o le , i n clu di ng t h e f a ct t h at M r. C ulli n an a n d
M s. R uiz a re t he o n ly p eo p le w ho k n ow t h e w in ners i n a dv an ce a n d p ers o n ally h an dl e
se cu rit y o f t he e n ve lo p es.
M r. R yan , w ho ha s s p oken w it h the c h ie f e x ecu tiv e o f t h e A ca de my o f M otio n P ic tu re
A rts a n d Scie n ce s, w ou ldn ’t s a y i f M r. C ulli n an w ou ld fa ce a n y p en alt y f r o m P w C o r i f h is
f ir m ’s r e la tio n shi p w it h the A ca de my h as b een da mag ed. R ig h t n ow t h e f ir m ’s f o cu s i s o n
en su rin g t he A ca de my a n d othe r p artie s k n ow P w C i s t a k in g r e sp on sib ili t y , M r. R yan
sa id.
N eit he r M r. R yan n or t he A ca de my w ou ld di sc u ss h ow m uch t h e a cco u n tin g f ir m i s p aid
t o t a b u la te O sc a r r e su lt s . C li e n ts f r o m t h e e n te rta in m en t a n d m ed ia s e cto r c o n tr ib u te d
4 .2 % o f P w C’s $ 3 5.9 b illi o n i n g lo b al r e v e n ue i n f is c a l 2 0 16 .
RELA TED
A Blunder for the Ages
When the Oscars Go Of fScript
Travel Ban, Syrian W ar Deter Oscar Winners From Show Su n da y’s O sc a r c e re m on y o n t he A BC n etw ork w as w atc h ed by 3 2 .9 m illi o n p eo p le
a cco rdi ng t o N ie ls e n , t he s e co n d- lo w est a u di en ce i n m ode rn h is to ry , b eh in d on ly 2 0 08,
w he n “ N o C ou n tr y f o r O ld M en ” w on b est p ic tu re .
A lt ho ugh hi ghl y u n w elc o m e f o r t h e A ca de my, S u n da y’s m ix -u p w as t h e k in d of
sp on ta n eo u s, l i v e -te le v is io n m om en t t h at h as e lu de d th e O sc a rs i n r e ce n t y ears. T he
ce re m on y ha s o ft e n f e lt l i k e a p re o rdai ned ev e n in g i n w hic h t r o p h ie s a re h an de d to
e x p ecte d win ners. N ota b le e x ce p tio n s h av e i n clu de d M ic h ae l M oo re ’s de nun cia tio n o f
P re side nt G eo rg e W . B ush in 2 0 03 o r E lle n D eG en ere s’s s e lf ie w it h A -li s te rs i n 2 0 14 .
N othi ng i n t he
m ovie a w ards ’
histo ry , t ho ugh,
ha s c o m pare d to
the dr am a
Su n da y. D urin g
the c e re m on y,
M r. C ulli n an a n d
M s. R uiz w ere p osit io n ed on o p posit e s ide s b ack sta g e a t t h e D olb y T heatr e i n
H olly w ood. E ach ha d a f u ll s e t o f e n ve lo p es c o n ta in in g t h e w in ners i n a ll 2 4 O sc a r
ca te g o rie s, b eca u se t he a cco u n ta n ts c a n ’t b e c e rta in a h ead of t im e w hic h s ide o f t h e
sta g e p re se n te rs w ill e n te r f r o m .
M s. R uiz g a v e t he b est- a ctr e ss e n ve lo p e t o p re se n te r L eo n ardo D iC ap rio , a cco rdi ng t o a
p ers o n f a m ili a r w it h the p ro du ctio n , w hic h r e su lt e d in M r. C ulli n an h av in g t h e e x tr a
e n ve lo p e f o r t ha t c a te g o ry . Tha t w as t h e e n ve lo p e h e i n adv erte n tly g a v e t o M r. B eatt y .
A sk ed la te r a t a p arty w he the r t he c a rd sh e r e ad sa id best a ctr e ss, M s. D un aw ay r e p li e d:
“I’m n ot g o in g t o di sc u ss t ha t.” S he q u ic k ly t u rn ed back t o h er di nner.
The PWC partner who handed the wrong envelope to Beatty tweeted this photo of Emma Stone from back stage moments
before the mix up. He has since deleted the tweet. PHOT O: BRIAN CULLINAN
READ MORE
Oscars Draw Lowest Ratings in Nine Y ears
‘Moonlight’ Takes Oscar for Best Picture After ‘La La Land’ Mistakenly Announced as Winner
After Oscar MixUp, Hollywood Searches for an Explanation
Oscar Overseer PricewaterhouseCoopers Apologizes for A ward Mixup The s n afu r e su lt e d in c ha os o n s ta g e a n d in t h e a u di en ce . S o m e i n t h e c ro w d had alr e ady
le ft t he ir s e ats a ft e r “ L a L a L an d, ” h eav ily f a v o re d to w in g o in g i n to t h e s h ow , w as
a n nou n ce d by M s. D un aw ay. M an y w ho r e m ain ed ga sp ed, s ta rin g i n c o n fu sio n a s t h e
back ers o f “ M oon li g ht ” c a u tio u sly a p pro ach ed th e s ta g e a ft e r “ L a L a L an d” p ro du ce r
J o rda n H oro w it z a n nou n ce d the ir f ilm h ad actu ally w on .
“The l a st 2 0 m in ute s o f m y l i f e
ha ve b een i n sa n e,“ s a id
“ M oon li g ht ” di re cto r B arry
J en kin s f o llo w in g t he
c e re m on y. “ I do n’t t hi nk m y
li f e c a n c ha nge m ore
dr am atic a lly t ha n i n t he l a st
2 0 m in ute s.”
The s ta ff o f A 24 , t he f o u r y ear-
o ld in de pen de nt s tu di o
behi nd “M oon li g ht ,” w as
ce le b ra tin g r a u co u sly , i f
b ew ilde re d, a t a p arty
im medi ate ly f o llo w in g t he
O sc a rs c e re m on y.
“It’s c ra zy !” s a id A24 ’s c o -he ad, D an ie l K atz . “ T hat w as s tu n nin g!” a dde d his b u sin ess
p artn er, D av id Fen kel.
“ L a L a L an d” w as he av ily f a v o re d to w in o ve r “ M oon li g h t.” W it h a b ox-o ffic e g ro ss o f $ 2 2
m illi o n , “ M oon li g ht ” i s t he s e co n d lo w est- g ro ssin g b est p ic tu re i n m ode rn h is to ry ,
a he ad of o n ly “ The H urt L ock er,” w hic h h ad m ade $ 14 .7 m illi o n w hen i t w on i n 2 0 09. A
t r ip ty ch lo ok a t t he l i f e o f a p oor, b la ck , g a y m an , “ M oon li g h t” w on o n ly t w o o th er
O sc a rs, f o r s u pportin g a cto r a n d adap te d sc re en pla y, a n d was a da rk h ors e i n t h e r a ce
a ga in st “ L a L a L an d, ” w hi ch re ce iv e d six a w ards i n clu di ng b est di re cto r f o r D am ie n
C ha ze lle , t he y o u n gest- e v e r w in ner i n t he c a te g o ry .
“I t o ld m y w if e I ’v e a lw ay s dr eam ed of s ta n di ng o n t h at s ta g e,” s a id “L a L a L an d”
ex ecu tiv e p ro du ce r M ic ha el B eu gg i n a n i n te rv ie w f o llo w in g t h e c e re m on y. “ A nd I g o t t o
s ta n d on i t t o n ig ht . B rie fly .”
— Joe F li n t a n d E th an Sm it h co ntr ib u te d t o t h is a rticl e.
W rit e t o B en F rit z a t b en .f r it z @ wsj.c o m , M ic ha el R ap op ort a t
M ic ha el.R ap op ort@ wsj.c o m a n d Eric h Sch w artz e l a t e ric h. sc h w artz e l@ wsj.c o m
Copyright ©;2017 Dow Jones &; Company , Inc. All Rights Reserved
This copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only . To order presentationready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers visit
http://www .djreprints.com.
GETTY IMAGES (3), ASSOCIA TED PRESS (1), REUTERS (1)
Red Carpet Fashion