Costume designer Janet Patterson died of cancer in October, but the Oscars In Memoriam photo meant to honor her memory was the second major blunder of the evening when the picture used showed a very-much-alive Jan Chapman instead.
Although the huge mistake that caused the wrong winner to be announced as Best Picture — "La La Land" was initially crowned instead of "Moonlight" — grabbed most of the headlines and attention, Australian producer Jan Chapman wrote to Variety after the ceremony to say she was very much alive and was upset to see her picture used instead of her friend Patterson’s.
"I was devastated by the use of my image in place of my great friend and long-time collaborator Janet Patterson," she wrote. "I had urged her agency to check any photograph which might be used and understand that they were told that the Academy had it covered. Janet was a great beauty and four-time Oscar nominee and it is very disappointing that the error was not picked up."
Patterson and Chapman worked together on “The Piano.” Chapman also produced “Lantana,” “Holy Smoke,” and the critically acclaimed “The Babadook,” along with many others.
“I am alive and well and an active producer,” Chapman concluded to Variety.
Patterson’s name with Chapman’s photo was removed from the Oscars site by Monday, The Washington Post reported, adding that the mix-up likely stemmed from a mislabeled photo caption.
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