Blunder at Cannes: Jury President Spike Lee accidentally reveals the Palme d'Or winner BEFORE presenting other awards in spectacular gaffe before admitting 'I have no excuses, I messed up'
Spike Lee has admitted he 'messed up' after accidentally revealing the winner of the Palme d'Or prize at the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday.
The esteemed director, 64, who led the festival's nine-member award jury this year, made the spectacular blunder when he was announcing the award winners and misunderstood the host when she asked him to read 'which prize is the first prize'.
Following the unclear instructions, Spike instead revealed the winner of the festival's top prize before anything else, announcing the prestigious award had gone to Titane directed by Julia Ducournau.
Oops! Cannes Film Festival Jury President Spike Lee accidentally revealed the Palme d'Or winner before presenting awards in spectacular blunder during Saturday's closing ceremony
The award marks only the second time ever that a female director has won the top prize at the festival in its 74-year history.
Speaking after the ceremony, Spike reflected: 'I have no excuses, I messed up. I'm a big sports fan. It´s like the guy at the end of the game who misses the free throw.'
He added: 'I messed up. As simple as that.'
The horror film stars Vincent Lindon, Agathe Rousselle, Garance Marillier and Laïs Salameh,and the first two joined Julia on stage.
Error: The esteemed director, 64, prematurely revealed that Titane directed by Julia Ducournau had won the top prize
Oh dear: Spike was seen sitting with his head in his hands after making the mistake
Honest: Speaking after the ceremony, Spike reflected: 'I have no excuses, I messed up. I'm a big sports fan. It´s like the guy at the end of the game who misses the free throw'
Winner: Spike was seen chatting with Julia at the end of the ceremony when she came up to accept her award, despite him revealing she'd won the coveted Palme d'Or at the start
Despite the mistake, Julia warmly shook Spike's hand as she comforted him for making the high-profile mishap when she accepted the award at the end of the ceremony.
Julia also embraced actress Sharon Stone as she accepted the prize, while Spike continued to look sheepish behind them.
Ducournau's win was a long-awaited triumph. The only previous female filmmaker to win Cannes' top honour - among the most prestigious awards in cinema - was Jane Campion for The Piano in 1993.
Panic: Despite the mishap, Julia warmly shook Spike's hand as she comforted him for making the high-profile mishap as she accepted the award
Joking around: Spike was seen chatting animatedly with Maggie Gyllenhaal after the mistake
Prize: Julia's prize marks only the second time a female director has won it (Julia with Sharon, Spike and Titane stars Vincent Lindon, centre, and Agathe Rousselle, second right)
Chaos: The director also embraced actress Sharon Stone as she accepted the prize, while Spike continued to look sheepish behind them
The slip up is reminiscent of the hilarious moment when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway incorrectly announced that La La Land had won the Best Picture Award at the Oscars in 2017.
In a heart-stopping moment, the stars and producers of La La Land were stopped midway through their acceptance speeches and forced to hand their trophies to the stars of Moonlight after their film was announced as Best Picture in one of the biggest blunders in Oscar history.
The terrible end to an otherwise triumphant show left the audience gasping in horror as Beatty revealed he had incorrectly read La La Land as the winner.
Emotional: Julia appeared tearful as she accepted the award from Sharon
Work it! Sharon looked stunning as she stepped out on stage to present the Plame d'Or award during the closing ceremony
Winner: Rosamund Pike gave director Nadav Lapid the Jury Prize award for the film Ha'berech (Ahed's Knee / Le genou d'Ahed)
Host with the most: Rosamund was seen talking to the audience during the awards show
While Spike may have suffered a presenting slip up, he brought style to the stage in an eye catching sky print suit.
The edgy ombre outfit blended from blues to purples, pinks, yellows and turquoise shades in a mesmerising abstract pattern.
He layered the rainbow ensemble over a plain white shirt and a classy black satin tie.
Unafraid to accessorise, Spike completed his outfit with a black and red hat, a chunky cross necklace and a pair of striking orange glasses.
Edgy: While Spike may have suffered a presenting slip up, he brought style to the stage in an eye catching sky print suit
Wow: The edgy ombre outfit blended from blues to purples, pinks, yellows and turquoise shades in a mesmerising abstract pattern
Colourful: Unafraid to accessorise, Spike completed his outfit with a black and red hat, a chunky cross necklace and a pair of striking orange glasses
History of Awards Show Gaffes
La La Land named Best Picture instead of Moonlight - Oscars 2017
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway incorrectly announced that La La Land had won the Best Picture Award at the Oscars in 2017, instead of Moonlight
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway incorrectly announced that La La Land had won the Best Picture Award at the Oscars in 2017.
In a heart-stopping moment, the stars and producers of La La Land were stopped midway through their acceptance speeches and forced to hand their trophies to the stars of Moonlight after they realised their film had not won.
The terrible end to an otherwise triumphant show left the audience gasping in horror as Beatty revealed he had incorrectly read La La Land as the winner.
John Travolta pronounces Idina Menzel's name incorrectly - Oscars 2014
In an amusing turn of events at the 2014 Academy Awards, John Travolta referred to Broadway star Idina Menzel as Adele Dazeem
In an amusing turn of events at the 2014 Academy Awards, John Travolta referred to Broadway star Idina Menzel as Adele Dazeem.
He was introducing the singer for her performance of Frozen's hit son Let It Go, but he appeared to read the teleprompter incorrectly.
Despite the mishap, Idina did not let the awkward gaffe faze her before she began her performance.
Harry Styles' ill-timed bathroom break - The BRIT Awards 2014
One Direction were left in an awkward position when Harry Styles went to the loo just before they were announced as the winners of Global Success Award
One Direction were left in an awkward position when Harry Styles went to the loo just before they were announced as the winners of Global Success Award.
Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayne Malik went up on stage without Harry to accept the award, and he later ran up on stage.
Explaining his absence he said: 'I'm really sorry, I was having a wee. The toilets are ages away.'
Steve Harvey crowns the wrong Miss Universe - 2015
Miss Universe host Steve Harvey accidentally named Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez as the winner before realising it was Philippines’ Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach who had won
Miss Universe host Steve Harvey accidentally named Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez as the winner of the competition before realising it was Philippines’ Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach who had won the prize.
Following the error he said in a Tweet: 'I'd like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia & Miss Philippines for my huge mistake. I feel terrible.'
Jennifer Lawrence falls before accepting her Academy Award - Oscars 2013
When Jennifer Lawrence stepped up to accept her Best Actress gong for The Silver Linings Playbook she tripped up on the stairs and tumbled to the floor
When Jennifer Lawrence stepped up to accept her Best Actress gong for The Silver Linings Playbook she tripped up on the stairs and tumbled to the floor.
The star was left red-faced after face-planting on the stairs, but she brushed herself off and walked up the stairs.
After she was given a standing ovation by the crowd, she joked: 'You guys are only standing up because I fell and you feel bad.'
Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift's acceptance speech - VMAs 2009
Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for her Best Female Video award at the VMAs in 2009 was cut short when Kanye West jumped up on stage and grabbed the mic from her
Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for her Best Female Video award at the VMAs in 2009 was cut short when Kanye West jumped up on stage and grabbed the mic from her.
Referring to Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), he said: 'Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you and I’mma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time.'
The incident sparked a feud between the pair that is still ongoing.
Chris Brown is incorrectly named over Rihanna for award - BET Awards 2011
At the BET Awards, presenter Tiffany Green announced that Chris Brown (pictured performing at the awards) had won the Viewers’ Choice Award instead of Rihanna
At the BET Awards, presenter Tiffany Green announced that Chris Brown had won the Viewers’ Choice Award.
However she then revealed that Rihanna was in fact the winner, and Drake took the stage to accept the prize on her behalf.
In a tweet afterwards, she said: 'The tablet f***in said CHRIS BROWN….the TELEPROMPTER said Rihanna. What the F***??????'
Kevin Hart later revealed that Chris was the intended recipient of the award.
Michael Keaton mixes up Hidden Figures and Fences - Golden Globes 2017
During the 2017 Golden Globes awards, Michael mixed up the titles for Hidden Figures and Fences, instead calling it Hidden Figures
During the 2017 Golden Globes awards, Michael mixed up the titles for Hidden Figures and Fences, instead calling it Hidden Figures.
It wasn't the first time that the two films, which have all-black lead casts, was mixed up as pre-show host Laura Bush also made the same mistake.
After, Michael said: 'I screwed the line up. I was nonchalant about it. I actually, now, I totally understand.
'It makes me feel so badly that people feel badly. If somebody feels badly, that’s all that matters.'
Michael Jackson accepts the Artist of the Millennium award - VMAs 2002
In an unfortunate mishap, Michael Jackson took to the stage at the VMAs and accepted an award that doesn't exist
In an unfortunate mishap, Michael Jackson took to the stage at the VMAs and accepted an award that doesn't exist.
After Britney Spears had called him her 'artist of the millennium' while presenting him with a 44th birthday cake, The late King Of Pop accidentally assumed he was being given a prize with the title.
He gave an awkward acceptance speech, in which he said: 'When I was a little boy growing up in Indiana if someone told me I'd be getting the Artist of the Millennium award, I'd never have believed it.'
Elizabeth Taylor almost messes up Best Picture winner - Golden Globes 2001
While presenting the award for Best Motion Picture Drama, Elizabeth Taylor opened the envelope before naming the nominees but producer Dick Clark stopped her in time
While presenting the award for Best Motion Picture Drama, Dame Elizabeth Taylor began opening the envelope before naming the nominees.
As she opened the envelope the crowd yelled in order to stop her.
However, it was only when producer Dick Clark came onstage that he was able to avert the gaffe.