Moonlight wins Best Picture Oscar, but only after award is given to La La Land

There was chaos and confusion at the Oscars after gay-themed film Moonlight won the best picture prize, shortly after the award had mistakenly been given to La La Land.

Moonlight, which stars Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders and Alex Hibbert, explores the life of an African-American boy at different ages – portraying him struggling to reconcile his sexuality and identity.

Bonnie and Clyde stars Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway had originally announced that La La Land had won the award.

“There’s been a mistake” #Oscars

The moment the La La Land team realise best picture was really won by Moonlight https://t.co/6Oj1ioMHuO pic.twitter.com/t1DgtOzDIg

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 27, 2017

The producers of the hit musical film were part way through their speeches when the mix-up was revealed. Jordan Horowitz said: “There’s a mistake. Moonlight, you guys won best picture.

“This is no joke. I’m afraid they read the wrong thing. This is not a joke, Moonlight, you won best picture.”

Beatty came back and said: “I want to tell you what happened I opened the envelope and it said Emma Stone, La La Land and that is why I took such a long look at Faye and at you.

“I wasn’t trying to be funny. This is Moonlight for best picture.”

Moonlight has been praised by critics and LGBT people alike for its “exploration of gay black masculinity… managing to do so without ever diminishing the lives full of complex humanity that black gay men still manage to have in America while navigating that reality”.

The film’s director Barry Jenkins said: “Very clearly even in my dreams this can’t be true. But to hell with dreams because this is true. It’s true, it’s not fake.”

Moonlight’s producer Dede Gardner said: “I’m still not sure this is real. It’s very humbling to be up here and I hope it’s inspiring to little black boys and brown girls who feel marginalised. I hope they take some inspiration from seeing this beautiful group of artists.”

Moonlight has become the first LGBT-themed film to win the best picture Oscar.

Moonlight’s Mahershala Ali also won best supporting actor, while Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney won best-adapted screenplay.

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