Al Pacino addresses Oscars best picture blunder: 'Not my intention'

Al Pacino has broken his silence on that confusing moment while presenting the coveted best picture award at the 2024 Oscars.

Pacino left the star-studded crowd in a moment of stunned silence on Monday when he announced Oppenheimer as the best picture winner after skipping naming the nominees.

In a statement to Variety, The Godfather star opened up about awkward moment, confirming it was an intentional decision not to name the other pictures.

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"There seems to be some controversy about my not mentioning every film by name last night before announcing the best picture award," Pacino said.

"I just want to be clear it was not my intention to omit them, rather a choice by the producers not to have them said again since they were highlighted individually throughout the ceremony," he continued.

"I was honoured to be a part of the evening and chose to follow the way they wished for this award to be presented."

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"I realise being nominated is a huge milestone in one's life and to not be fully recognised is offensive and hurtful," the actor said.

"I say this as someone who profoundly relates with filmmakers, actors and producers so I deeply empathize with those who have been slighted by this oversight and it's why I felt it necessary to make this statement."

Pacino was chosen to present the final gong of the night at the 2024 Oscars, which ultimately went to Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, marking their seventh award.

The Hollywood star skipped naming the other nominees from the best picture category altogether, going straight to read the envelope.

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"Here it comes. And my eyes see Oppenheimer," he told the momentarily silent crowd who appeared to be confused it that was indeed the winner before the music played.

The other films nominated in the biggest category of the night were American Fiction, Barbie, The Holdovers, Maestro, Anatomy of a Fall, Killers of the Flower Moon, Past Lives, Poor Things and The Zone of Interest.

Oppenheimer also took home six other gongs from the night, including best actor for Cillian Murphy and best supporting actor for Robert Downey Jr. - both of their first Academy Awards.

This isn't the first time there has been a mishap during the announcement of the best picture winner, no doubt adding to the world's worry in the moment.

In 2017, La La Land was mistakenly announced by presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the winner before the film's producer corrected that Moonlight had won.