The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has apologised to Australian producer Jan Chapman for mistakenly including her picture in Oscars’ ‘In Memoriam’ segment.
Chapman’s photograph was used instead of Janet Patterson’s, an Oscar-nominated costume designer who died in October 2016.
The organisation behind the annual awards show also apologised to the Patterson family, reports variety.com.
“We sincerely apologise to producer Jan Chapman, whose photo was mistakenly used in the Oscars ‘In Memoriam’ tribute for her colleague and dear friend, the late Janet Patterson,” the organisation said in an Instagram post on Wednesday.
The post read: “Janet, an Academy member and four-time Oscar-nominated costume designer, was beloved in our community. We extend our deepest apologies and condolences to the Patterson family.”
Chapman and Patterson worked together on “The Piano”. Her credits include “Holy Smoke” and “The Last Days of Chez Nous”.
The ceremony took place here on February 26.
The apology came more than 48 hours after the telecast. This year’s Oscars have drawn extensive coverage for a gaffe that saw presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway mistakenly name “La La Land” as Best Picture.
The producers of the musical gave their acceptance speeches before learning “Moonlight” had actually won the honour. The Academy took nearly a full day to issue an apology for that mistake.
According to variety.com, the photograph of Chapman was taken at the 2010 Kodak Inside Film Awards in Sydney. It was shot by Brendon Thorne for Getty Images. It appears to have been mislabeled as a photo of Patterson, who was nominated for her work on “Bright Star”.
Getty Images has yet to comment on the blunder. Thorne did not respond to requests for comment. The Academy has updated the In Memoriam footage with the correct photo.
