The Academy Confuses Film Twitter by Posting a Now-Deleted Photo Called “My Oscar Predictions”
The image listed Parasite as Best Picture and Sam Mendes for Directing
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Movies News The Academy Awards
On Monday, Feb. 3, the official Twitter account of The Academy appeared to post a puzzling picture: an image, since-deleted, titled “My Oscar Predictions,” with the 24 Oscar categories—everything from Best Picture to Visual Effects—actually filled in with an official Academy Award contender. The image listed Parasite as the winner for Best Picture and Sam Mendes for Directing.
The tweet, and others like it, were a part of a feature that The Academy launched to make it easier for fans to post their own predictions. However, the “My Oscar Predictions” image that caught Twitter’s attention looked as if The Academy itself tweeted it. It had the official The Academy handle on the tweet, plus the Oscar logo.
In light of the 2017 La La Land gaffe, a possible leak is definitely intriguing, but that’s unlikely, especially since the Oscar ballots don’t close until Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020.
This is odd. No idea what they’re doing here XD
Certainly not a leak or something since voting hasn’t closed yet and they haven’t even starting counting ballots
— Will Mavity (@mavericksmovies) February 4, 2020
i want this to be real, like, a leak of the results, but i think reality would implode on itself if they gave parasite 4 oscars, including Best Picture and Best int. Picture.
no way they would do the right thing.
— Ivan Magalhães (@Lordyami) February 4, 2020
The Academy has since addressed the matter in a Twitter post, saying that the organization “invited fans on Twitter to make and share your Oscar predictions,” adding, “a brief issue on Twitter made some of yours look like they came from our account. They didn’t. The error is now resolved. And we’ll reveal our picks on Sunday.”
We invited fans on Twitter to make and share your #Oscars predictions.
A ton of you already have!
A brief issue on Twitter made some of yours look like they came from our account.
They didn’t. This error is now resolved.
And we’ll reveal our picks on Sunday.
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) February 4, 2020
Both Parasite and 1917 have dominated awards ceremonies this year, with Parasite winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes and the top SAG Award, and 1917 winning in the outstanding film categories for the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes, adding further speculation that the Twitter post could contain some truth.
The Academy Awards will be presented on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. EST. Be sure to check back with Paste to follow along with our live coverage of the winners.