La La Land seemed to be heading toward a sweep of the top categories as the 89th annual Academy Awards wound down. After the musical’s leader, Damien Chazelle, picked up the trophy for Best Director, and Emma Stone, its star, nabbed the award for Best Actress, many thought the project–which paid homage to vintage Hollywood–was a lock for Best Picture.
The crowd waited with bated breath as Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced the winner–La La Land.
Though many were pulling for Moonlight, the indie film that explored Black masculinity through a gripping coming of age tale, it seemed like Academy votes had once again picked the safe choice.
La La Land’s producing team took the stage and had begun to accept the awards, doling out thanks to their supporters, when they noticed there was a problem–the film hadn’t actually won. It seems like Beatty and Dunaway had made a mistake and Moonlight was actually the rightful winner.
Watching the #Oscars producers slowly tell the #LaLaLand team they didn’t win Best Picture is WILD. Keep your eyes on the background pic.twitter.com/3TRUWZAMjH
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) February 27, 2017
Talk about a plot twist!
As Moonlight’s team realized they were the real winners, they made their way to the stage where director Barry Jenkins told the audience, “Even in my dreams, this could not be true. But to hell with dreams, I’m done with it, because this is true.”
‘Moonlight’ director Barry Jenkins can’t believe it, either #Oscars pic.twitter.com/6r1Ar8p9in
— Mashable (@mashable) February 27, 2017
Following the surprise ending, Twitter erupted with jubilation as Moonlight was crowned the best picture of the year.
Late in the Moonlight hour…God's gonna turn it around…
— African Dad (@AfricanDad) February 27, 2017
Moonlight beating La La Land for the Best Picture #Oscar has Twitter looking like America right after the OJ Verdict. pic.twitter.com/AjFOrdsxf0
— L E F T, PhD ⚫️ (@LeftSentThis) February 27, 2017
WE REALLY CLOSING OUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH LIKE THIS pic.twitter.com/gL5NVHUPIW
— shereen (@delashereen) February 27, 2017
Nothing that happened on the stage should overshadow the major achievement of #Moonlight winning #BestPicture at the #Oscars tonight. pic.twitter.com/4S9bv9kUkI
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) February 27, 2017
This was literally me when they announced La La Land and then Moonlight really won pic.twitter.com/9ztFCH8ZNG
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) February 27, 2017
Black Twitter went from this to this, QUICKLY #Oscars pic.twitter.com/983nL4cGhR
— Larry's Son (@ChrisThomas266) February 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/zblay/status/836082486203596801
O. M. G!!!!#Moonlight won Best Picture! I'm not even gonna look at the accidental announcement of that other movie. The fuck?! #Oscars
— Cocogoat 🥥🐐 (@ItsNasB) February 27, 2017
Samuel L. Jackson IS CRYING!!!!!!!! He knows how important this is to the culture! #OSCARS!
— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) February 27, 2017
The cast of La La Land handing their awards over to Moonlight is reparations #Oscars
— ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ (@merelynora) February 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/ConstanceWu/status/836087359917580288
Congratulations to the Moonlight team. It truly is a beautiful film. Well done
— John Legend (@johnlegend) February 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/rgay/status/836087868850388992
Congrats to Barry Jenkins and the Moonlight team for winning film’s top award!