Al Pacino Addresses ‘Controversy’ Over Why He Didn’t Name All 10 Best Picture Nominees Before Announcing Winner

Al Pacino talks about the unconventional way he announced the Oscar winner in the Best Picture category.

Pacino issued a statement saying it was not his choice to skip reading the list of nominees, it was reported Diversity and CNN. He shared the statement on Monday after the announcement Oppenheimer as the winner on Sunday night.

In a break with tradition, Pacino, 83, did not summarize all 10 nominees in the category before announcing the winner. “Here it is,” he teased after opening the envelope.

“And my eyes see Oppenheimer,” he declared. After a brief pause — and audience confusion — the Dolby Theater erupted in applause Oppenheimer.

“There seems to be some controversy over my not mentioning every movie by name last night before announcing the best picture award,” Pacino said in his statement, according to Diversity. “I just want to be clear that it wasn’t my intention to leave them out, it was the producers’ decision not to repeat them again because they were highlighted individually during the ceremony.”

Al Pacino’s Best Picture Reveal at 2024 Oscars Leaves Viewers Confused: Host Jimmy Kimmel Reacts

“I was honored to be a part of the evening and decided to follow the way they wanted this award to be presented. I understand that a nomination is a big turning point in someone’s life and that not being fully recognized is insulting and painful,” the Oscar winner continued.

“I say this as someone who is deeply involved with the filmmakers, actors and producers, so I feel deeply for those who were slighted by this oversight, and that’s why I felt it necessary to make this statement,” Pacino concluded.

Al Pacino, Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan on Sunday, March 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Frank Micelotta/Disney via Getty

After the Oscars, the producer of the telecast, Molly McNearney, shared an interview with Diversity that leaving out the list of nominees “was a creative decision.” She explained that the team was “very concerned that the show would be long.”

“By the time you get to the end of the show, you’ve seen all of the top 10 picture clip packs,” shared McNearney. “People just want to hear who wins and are pretty much ready for the show to end. At least that’s what we expected. So we didn’t give him a clip pack. We didn’t give him nominations to read. I apologize if our decision not to have to read all those nominations put him in a difficult position.”

The producer also admitted that the actor’s decision not to say the line “And Oscar goes…” may have made the announcement “a little confusing.”

Oscars hosts Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling insult Lob Barbenheimer as he accuses him of taking pictures of his abs

“But listen, that’s the thrill of live television,” McNearney added. “You never know exactly what you’re going to get!”

One source told CNN that the actor’s decision to make the unusual announcement of the award was “just Al Pacino Pacino.”

Al Pacino on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California.

Kevin Winter/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In a backstage interview, host Jimmy Kimmel joked with Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos and said, “I guess [Pacino’s] never watched an awards show before?”

“Everybody in America seems to know the beat of how it should go, right down to ‘And the Oscar goes to,'” Kimmel, 56, said.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education