Oscars 2024: Al Pacino defends his truncated Best Picture announcement: Producers asked me to...

At the Oscars, Hollywood actor Al Pacino caused a controversy after he omitted names of Best Picture nominees while announcing the winner. It was the last winner announcement of the 96th Academy Awards when Al was called onto the stage but kept the announcement a tad too short, straightaway naming the winner. Now, he has addressed the controversy, offering an explanation.

There were 10 films that made it to the Best Picture nomination list: Oppenheimer, American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, Barbie, The Holdovers,Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Past Lives, Poor Things and The Zone of Interest.

Here is how Al Pacino made the Best Picture announcement

Al walked on the stage, and without mentioning names of the nine other nominees, revealed that it was Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer that had won.

“This is the time for the last award of the evening, and it’s my honour to present it. Ten wonderfilm films were nominated, but only one will take the award for Best Picture. And I have to go to the envelope for that, and I will. Here it comes. And my eyes see Oppenheimer,” he had said.

Since it was too short, people were left confused whether there was more coming or if that was it.

This is how he defended his brief announcement

Addressing the controversy, Al Pacino gave a statement via his representatives.

He said, “There seems to be some controversy about my not mentioning every film by name last night before announcing the best picture award.”

“I just want to be clear it was not my intention to omit them, rather a choice by the producers not to have them said again, since they were highlighted individually throughout the ceremony. I was honoured to be a part of the evening and chose to follow the way they wished for this award to be presented.”

On how it was not his intention to omit the fellow nominees in the Best Picture category, Al said, “I realise being nominated is a huge milestone in one’s life, and to not be fully recognised is offensive and hurtful.

"I say this as someone who profoundly relates with filmmakers, actors and producers, so I deeply empathise with those who have been slighted by this oversight, and it’s why I felt it necessary to make this statement. ”