Spike Lee revealed the winner of 2021 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or ahead of schedule last night.
Not since the 2017 Oscars has a presenter fumbled their duties so dramatically. "I messed up, simple as that" he said, "I'm a big sports fan. I'm like the guy at the end of the game who misses a free throw or a kick. No apologies. The people of Titane said 'forget about it Spike', that means a lot to me."
Towards the beginning of the award show, following a misunderstanding of a question from the show's host, Lee was prompted to reveal the "first prize." "The film that won the Palme d'Or is Titane," said Lee, this year's jury president, after standing to read from a notecard. Watch what went down below.
Later in the ceremony, Lee very nearly repeated his mistake. “In 63 years of life I’ve learned that people get a second chance, this is my second chance. I apologize for messing up. It took a lot of suspense out of the night I understand, it wasn’t on purpose,” he said. He then proceeded to announce the prize again, before the hostess intervened so that Sharon Stone could take the stage and make the announcement.
