Update: At the press conference after the ceremony, Lee said, “I have no excuses. I messed up. I’m a big sports fan. It’s like the guy at the end of the game in the foul line, he misses the free throw, or a guy misses a kick,” adding, “So no apologies… I was very specific to speak to the people of Cannes and tell them that I apologize. They said forget about it.”
Earlier: Oops. The Cannes Film Festival ceremony audience was in for a shock Saturday evening as jury president Spike Lee accidentally announced Julia Ducournau’s “Titane” as the winner of the Palme d’Or, the event’s top prize. Lee made the slip-up at the top of the ceremony, just before announcing Caleb Landry Jones as the Best Actor winner for “Nitram.” To his credit, Lee was told in French to announce the “first prize,” but misinterpreted that to mean “first place.”
“In my 63 years of life, I’ve learned people get a second chance. So this is my second chance. I apologize for messing up. It took a lot of suspense out of the night,” Spike Lee said later in the evening when it was time to officially name “Titane” the winner. (Before almost prematurely announcing the winner a second time.)
The Palme d’Or prize for filmmaker Julia Ducournau (“Raw”) makes her only the second female director in the festival’s history to receive the award. The first, and only other female filmmaker so far, to win the Palme d’Or was Jane Campion for “The Piano” in 1993.
The moment, for some, had echoes of the infamous 2017 Oscar flub where “La La Land” was accidentally named the Best Picture winner over actual winner “Moonlight.”
Follow along with the festival’s winners here. And watch the moment where the slip-up occurred here:
Here’s the wild clip of Spike Lee accidentally announcing the Palme d’Or winner at the very beginning of the closing ceremony pic.twitter.com/l7kD1AP57A
— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) July 17, 2021
Spike Lee gave away the final prize by mistake! “We call this a do-over!” The jury is laughing and cajoling while Lee holds his head in his hands. The first prize is Caleb Landry Jones as Best actor for Justin Kurzel’s Nitram. Quel Surprise!
— Anne Thompson (@akstanwyck) July 17, 2021
SPIKE LEE JUST ACCIDENTALLY ANNOUNCED THAT TITANE WON THE PALME D’OR
— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) July 17, 2021
I’m on a plane that is about to take off, so I’d like to thank Spike Lee for letting me know the big winner before I have to turn off my phone. Good night!
— Scott Feinberg @ Cannes (@ScottFeinberg) July 17, 2021
Spike Lee has accidentally spoiled the Palme d’Or winner early and announced TITANE as the winner! Wow! #Cannes2021 #Cannes74 #CannesFilmFestival #FilmTwitter pic.twitter.com/SUX7mVni3W
— Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) July 17, 2021
OMG what just happened?!
Spike Lee just read the Palme d’Or instead of starting with the first prizes. INFUCKINGSANE:
TITANE POWAH!
— Cédric Succivalli (@OnTheLido) July 17, 2021
SPIKE LEE ANNOUNCED PALME D’OR FIRST pic.twitter.com/6hFxkKmEFa
— ingrid ege (@happygoingrid) July 17, 2021
What a moment. As soon as the presenter threw to Spike Lee he looked down at apiece of paper and said “Well, the Palme d’Or goes to Titane…” as if he was about to just read out a list. #Cannes2021
— Robbie Collin (@robbiereviews) July 17, 2021
Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
