Academy apologizes for in memoriam mistake
NEW YORK (AP) - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has apologized to the Australian movie producer it incorrectly showed during Sunday's Oscars in memoriam reel.
In a statement Wednesday, the film academy extended "our deepest apologies" to producer Jan Chapman, whose photo was mistakenly used in the tribute instead of Chapman's colleague and friend, the late Janet Patterson. Chapman had said she was "devastated" by the error.
Patterson, an Australian costume designer and four-time Oscar nominee ("The Piano," ''Bright Star"), passed away in October last year. Patterson and Chapman worked together on "The Piano."
FILE - In this May 1, 2009, file photo, Australian producer Jan Chapman attends a press conference for the film 'Bright Star' during the 62nd International film festival in Cannes, southern France. Chapman tells Variety that she is "alive and well" despite her photo's inclusion in the "In Memoriam" tribute at the Oscars on Feb. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)
The academy also updated the in memoriam reel on the website for the Oscars.
Sara Bareilles performs during an In Memoriam tribute at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
