Oscars 2017 Best Picture goof-up: PricewaterhouseCoopers explains what went wrong

PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accounting firm responsible for tabulating Oscar ballots, apologised for an ’error’ in the announcement of the best picture award Sunday, admitting Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were handed the wrong envelope.

The embarrassing mix-up saw the Oscar incorrectly given to musical La La Land before the actual winner, coming-of-age drama Moonlight, was finally handed the prize.

“We sincerely apologise to ‘Moonlight,’ ‘La La Land,’ Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, and Oscar viewers for the error that was made during the award announcement for Best Picture,” the company said in a statement.

“The presenters had mistakenly been given the wrong category envelope and, when discovered, was immediately corrected,” it added.

“We are currently investigating how this could have happened, and deeply regret that this occurred.”

The mistake made for a chaotic end to the film industry’s biggest night, on which La La Land went home with six awards including best director, actress, score and song, to three for Moonlight.

For his part, Kimmel did his best to make light of the situation on-stage, saying, “I blame myself for this.” Afterward, though, he told ABC News affiliate KABC that in reality, he was not at fault.

“I do want to say, just for the record, that I had nothing to do with whatever happened there at the end," the first-time Oscars host said.

(Compiled using agency inputs)