In this photo, taken Feb. 26, 2017, PwC accountant Brian Cullinan (center) holds red envelopes under his arm while using his cell phone backstage at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. PwC accountants won’t be allowed to have their cellphones backstage during future Oscar telecasts. Film academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs sent an email to academy members Wednesday, March 29, 2017, detailing the new protocols established for announcing Oscar winners after the best-picture flub at last month’s Academy Awards. Boone Isaacs blamed Cullinan’s distraction for the error. (Photo by MATT SAYLES / Invision/AP)
NEW YORK — Actress Faye Dunaway says she thought co-presenter Warrant Beatty was joking when he paused before showing her the envelope that should have contained the Oscar’s best picture winner.
Dunaway tells Lester Holt on NBC Nightly News she thought Beatty was stalling for effect.
Dunaway read “La La Land” as best picture winner rather than “Moonlight” after PwC partner Brian Cullinan mistakenly handed them the back-up envelope for Actress in a Leading Role instead of the envelope for Best Picture.
She says she read the movie’s title on the card but didn’t notice Emma Stone’s name.
Dunaway says she felt “completely stunned” and later felt guilty because she thought she could have done something to prevent the debacle.
Holt’s interview with Dunaway will air Tuesday on “The Today Show.”