For something that should be a fairly straightforward veneration of the Hollywood figures who have passed away in the last year, the In Memoriam segment of the Oscars tends to be mired in weird controversy. Usually its due to someone being excluded, but this year it was maybe too inclusive: someone was included who is absolutely not dead.
At least her photo was. Janet Patterson, an Aussie costume designer who was nominated for her work in The Piano, Portrait of a Lady, Oscar and Lucinda and Bright Star, passed away in October. She was included in the In Memoriam section, but the photo was Jan Chapman, another Australian who is alive and well.
In another #Oscars stuff-up, the ‘In Memoriam’ segment confused Janet Patterson for living Jan Chapman: https://t.co/5geXz1ZzK0 pic.twitter.com/HW149s8yiv
— SBSMovies (@SBSMovies) February 27, 2017
Variety quoted Chapman, who reported being ‘devastated’ over the mixup:
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.
The pair had worked together on The Piano.
Welp.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald.
Photo: Oscars.
