Al Pacino Clarifies That His Speedy Best Picture Reveal At The Oscars Was “A Choice By The Producers”: “I Deeply Empathize With Those Who Have Been Slighted By This Oversight”

It appears as though Al Pacino was really just the messenger during his unusual Best Picture presentation at Sunday night’s (March 10) Oscars.

“And my eyes see Oppenheimer,” the Scarface star announced after opting to open the envelope, seemingly failing to mention the category’s nine other contenders.

In response to the “controversy” generated by his presentation, he issued a statement on Monday (March 11) in which he clarified that it was “not [his] intention to omit” the nominees, but “rather, a choice by the producers not to have them said again since they were highlighted individually throughout the ceremony,” per The New York Times.

Noting that he “was honored to be a part of the evening,” he decided “to follow the way [the producers] wished for this award to be presented.”

“I realize being nominated is a huge milestone in one’s life and to not be fully recognized is offensive and hurtful,” he continued. “I say this as someone who profoundly relates with filmmakers, actors and producers so I deeply empathize with those who have been slighted by this oversight and it’s why I felt it necessary to make this statement.”

According to The New York Times, Molly McNearney, an Oscars producer and host Jimmy Kimmel‘s wife, confirmed Pacino’s explanation while speaking with Variety, elaborating that his speedy reveal was “a creative decision [they] made” resulting from concern that the program would run long. Noting that “by the time you get to the end of the show, you’ve seen all ten best picture clip packages,” she said that they “did not give [Pacino] a clip package,” nor any nominations to read aloud.

“I apologize if our decision to not have to read through all those nominations put him in a tough spot,” she told the outlet.

Conceding that his presentation “made it a little confusing,” she concluded, “But listen, that’s the excitement of live television. You never know you’re going to get exactly!”

Kimmel still poked fun at Pacino’s presentation, telling Live‘s Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, “I guess he’s never watched an awards show before.” After learning that he had some time to spare prior to Pacino’s presentation, Kimmel chose to react on the air to Donald Trump blasting his performance on Truth Social in what became another memorable moment of the night.

“They go, ‘You’ve got a little bit of time,’” Kimmel recalled to Ripa and Consuelos. “And I go, ‘I’m reading the Trump tweet.’ They were like, ‘No, no! Don’t read that!’ [I was like] ‘Yes I am!’”