Leaked Oscar-Winner List Is a "Complete Fraud"

Thursday, February 19, 2009 3:19:00 PM PT, E! Online 38 comments
(ABC/E! Online) (ABC/E! Online)E! Online

Yeah, yeah...the list of winners from the upcoming 81st Annual Academy Awards appears to have been leaked.

A document listing each Oscar category -- with the name of a winner beside it -- that appears to have been signed by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Sid Ganis has been making the Internet rounds, thereby spoiling... absolutely nothing.

"The document is a complete fraud," Academy spokeswoman Leslie Unger tells E! News in response to the purported awards -- season leakage.

"PricewaterhouseCoopers is still counting the ballots, and there are only two people there who will know the complete list of winners in advance of the envelopes being opened during the ceremony," Unger says. "The Academy's president is not advised of the winners in advance, and no such list is created."

Not that we needed a prankster -- or a crystal ball, for that matter -- to tell us Slumdog Millionaire is going to win Best Picture on Sunday.

Besides, the final ballots issued to the 5,810 voting members of the Academy were not due back to Pricewaterhouse until last Friday, and the Oscar -- giving organization specified that the results would immediately make their way into sealed envelopes -- not a master list.

Which is a good thing, considering all the sticky fingers itching to post stuff online and spoil good fun these days, like the guy who tried to get a jump on the Oscar nods in 2000.

Nine years ago, Ain't It Cool News creator Harry Knowles posted a list of so -- called preliminary selections the day before that year's nominees were to be announced.

He claimed the doc came from "deep within the halls" of the Academy, but in reality, all he posted was a list of guesses made by ABC.com journalists in advance of their Oscar night coverage.

Despite the discrepancies between his post and what the year's nominees turned out to be, Knowles maintained he got the list from an Academy -- run site.

Also just as accurate was the star placed by Anne Hathaway's name on the Golden Globes' official website in January indicating she would be the winner for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama.

The Hollywood Foreign Press immediately characterized the errant star as a mistake -- which it was. Kate Winslet pocketed the award -- her second of the night, and who anticipated that? -- for Revolutionary Road.

-- THEY SAID WHAT? Get today's most commented stories now at www.eonline.com

38 comments

comments 1-10 of 38  | newest | < newer | older > | oldest
  • pilipinae
    Golden Years of Movies are things in the past.Just waste of time and money to see one nowadays.Most movies now are naked man and women foul language and winning spechess are sooooooooooo [my keys didn't stucked] boring and most they called fashion are ridicoulous...OMG....OMG...PLEASE...
    report abuseposted February 22, 2009, 3:37 pm PST
  • anonymous
    I'll admit: I haven't seen all of the nominees for Best Picture. I've only seen Benjamin Button and Milk. However, that being said, I was very impressed with both, though I believe that Benjamin Button lacked heart. Where Milk was inspiring, Benjamin Button was merely beautiful. Though let's face it: the Academy Awards don't matter. People watch them now only to see what the stars are wearing
    report abuseposted February 22, 2009, 12:59 pm PST
  • Polly B
    To Fed up in California and everyone else who seems to dislike the oscars and, for that matter, the movies: Who's taste are we talking about here? Jeez, most of the comments here are by very narrow-minded people who evidently haven't seen all the movies, don't like being exposed to representations of the real world outside their comfort zones, and whose "tastes" are bland or otherwise
    report abuseposted February 22, 2009, 12:42 pm PST
  • Donna Care Anymore
    Yeah, taste has gone downhill. When awards are given to real good actors after death, are dying or too old to act anymore, for movies never recognized before, something is wrong. I believe the Oscar is run by juveniles 7 to 12 yrs old. Honestly, I watch the show to see what the ladies are wearing! With all the slutty reality shows they push down our throats, what else is left to watch? Thnx!
    report abuseposted February 22, 2009, 11:58 am PST
  • Bronco 21
    I used to love the academy awards....Now all it is about is movies that are in my face politically and that I don't really care to see. I used to see all of the nominated films..now I don't see any of them and don't want to...
    report abuseposted February 22, 2009, 10:50 am PST
  • 8====D
    In the likelihood that Kate Winslet wins the Oscar for Best Actress which in this case she richly deserves, not only for " The Reader " but for all the previous films she's been terrific in , though in this particular role she was superb , it may restore some of the faith I'd lost after Diane Lane for " Unfaithful " and especially Heath L edger for " Brokeback Mountain&q
    report abuseposted February 22, 2009, 10:48 am PST
  • Shilo
    My god, why do you miserable people come on here just to comment about how much you hate the Oscars or any of the favored movies? Get a life and stop wasting your energy. Jeez.
    report abuseposted February 22, 2009, 10:40 am PST
  • Mark
    Forgetable movies by celebrities, not stars. Yet its always entertaining to see their faces all in one crowd at these watered downed awards. Not a good choice of host.
    report abuseposted February 22, 2009, 10:31 am PST
  • Andy S
    Want to go see the best picture of the year? Go see Gran Torino, end of story.
    report abuseposted February 22, 2009, 10:30 am PST
  • moviewatcher
    Oh yeah, and another thing...Kate Winslet get over yourself.
    report abuseposted February 22, 2009, 10:30 am PST
comments 1-10 of 38  | newest | < newer | older > | oldest

post your comment

Sign in to post a comment.

Sign In

The Best of Oscars

SPONSORED LINKS

Hot & Sexy Celebrity Video Clips
Watch the Latest Video Clips of the Latest Celebrities Making News.
www.Fancast.com
Free OMG Stock Report
Top-Rated Stocks: Buy or Sell? Sign Up for Your Free Report Today.
www.Zacks.com
the latest celebrity gossip
Get Entertainment News, Events, & The Latest On Latin Celebs Here.
Latina.com/entertainment
Pregnant Celebrity Photos
Photos Of Pregnant Celebrities & Profiles Of The Soon-To-Be-Moms.
www.Parents.com
Shirt as Worn by Michael Jackson
Clothing Michael Jackson red shirt. We Ship Worldwide.
www.TattooApparel.com