Despite historic gaffe, the Oscars are keeping PwC as accounting firm
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided that despite the historic flub at this year's Oscars, PricewaterhouseCoopers will continue to be involved in the balloting and ceremony — with a few new safeguards.
In case you've somehow forgotten, the accounting firm handed presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway the wrong envelope for Best Picture winner. The La La Land cast and crew was already on stage and delivering acceptance speeches when it emerged that Moonlight had actually won.
Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in a letter to academy members that their board of governors has decided to continue the eight-decade working relationship with PwC.
But new protocols will be put in place intended to prevent another mistake of that magnitude. The error was blamed on a distracted PwC partner said to be tweeting moments before handing over the wrong envelope. Now, electronic devices will be removed from backstage.
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Additional measures include a PwC employee "with knowledge of the award winners who will sit in the control room with the show's director throughout the ceremony," and the "implementation of partner rehearsals for possible onstage issues."
The new protocols also expand the oversight roles of two members of PwC's senior management in the balloting. The board of governors made the decision at its first meeting since the ceremony.
Boone Isaacs added that PwC "has taken full responsibility for the mistake" and that the academy "has been unsparing in our assessment that the mistake make by representatives of the firm was unacceptable."
At the same time, she said, this year was "the most extraordinary and memorable Oscars ceremony in decades."
Earlier this month, Boone Isaacs told The Associated Press that the two PwC accountants who were handing out envelopes backstage during this year's ceremony have been "permanently removed from all film academy dealings." Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.