Anger after Oscars In-Memoriam gaffe sees wrong picture used in tribute

It’s emerged that following the Best Picture debacle, a second, more sensitive gaffe was made at this year’s Oscars, during its annual In-Memoriam section.

Janet Patterson, an Australian costume designer, four-time Oscar nominee and BAFTA winner, died in October last year, and was featured in the broadcasted montage last night.

However, in a mix up, a picture of Jan Chapman, a leading Australian producer was used as illustration instead, though the two women did work together.

Speaking to Variety, Chapman said: “I was devastated by the use of my image in place of my great friend and long-time collaborator Janet Patterson.

“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.

“I am alive and well and an active producer.”

Patterson is pictured above, in the centre, with Chapman and the director Jane Campion, following Campion’s Oscar win for Best Original Screenplay for ‘The Piano’ in 1993, produced by Chapman and with costumes designed by Patterson.

The all also worked together on the movies ‘2 Friends’, ‘Holy Smoke’ and ‘Bright Star’.

Patterson died in 2015, Nicole Kidman paying tribute to her at the time, saying: “She’s not here anymore, but she lives on through those beautiful clothes and images.”

So far, the Academy has not made an official comment about the mistake, and has also come under fire for missing out the likes of Garry Shandling and Florence Henderson from its list, as well as Bill Paxton, who died over the weekend, but was mentioned by Jennifer Lawrence as the In-Memoriam reel was introduced.

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