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Why was Best Actor AFTER Best Picture at Oscars 2021? Fans call it worse than ‘La La Land’ and ‘Moonlight’ gaffe

In a major twist, Best Picture wasn't the final award for the night. This wasn't first time though in the history of Oscar Awards... Read on to know more.

Remember the disastrous Oscars night when La La Land was announced the winner for Best Picture and the trophy was handed over to Moonlight moments later? Could anything be worse than that? 

The 93rd Academy Awards did manage to reach close enough by changing the order of the category announcements and handing over trophy for Best Actor after Best Picture. Yes, in a major twist, Best Picture wasn't the final award for the night. This wasn't first time though in the history of Oscar Awards. In 17 of the first 20 Academy Awards ceremonies, the Irving G Thalberg Memorial Award and the acting categories were typically announced after Best Picture.

Nonetheless, it did leave many hearts shattered — more so, because the end didn't feature a poignant tribute to Chadwick Boseman but went to Anthony Hopkins who wasn't even present at the ceremony. Moreover, there was no explanation given for the decision to change up the run of the show. 

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Social media was bursting with fury and pouring with outrage after the anticlimactic Best Actor win. 

"I never thought the Academy could mess up more than when they accidentally gave La La Land Best Picture over Moonlight, but this was the worst, most anticlimactic ending to a show ever," one tweet read and another said, "Who in the HELL made the decision to put Best Actor AFTER Best Picture? You're setting yourself up for disaster. I know the signals were all there that Boseman was going to win but you DON'T TAKE THAT RISK ON LIVE TV."

A third chimed in, "Not as bad as the year they announced the wrong winner but close. How do you not end with Best Picture? It’s history, tradition and just plain common sense. You build to the big finish. Unless you’re the Academy in 2021. Just wow."

"So suddenly they decide to put lead actor last not best picture knowing full well people will be thinking Chadwick will win, as deserved, to then rob him of his Oscar and end on someone who was not even there or giving a speech, so disrespectful, bullshit!" one user posted.

"You know there were allot of articles recalling the 2011 #Oscars were the most bizarre awards. But the #Oscars2021 ending will hold my most disappointing. They didn't announce best picture. And didn't tell the audience how to follow," one tweet read.

One viewer even went on to say, "I kept hearing this was going to be a moving finale with Chadwick Boseman getting this last Oscar. I only tuned in toward the end for that, McDormand, best picture and director and they stuck the director earlier for some bizarre reason. I feel... cheated. #Oscars2021."

Not only fans, members of the entertainment fraternity were surprised too. 

"It surely was a surprise," Nomadland producer Dan Janvey said of the shakeup. He told reporters at the press room, "I think a lot of us grew up watching the Oscars and have gotten used to that being last. It was incredibly fun that they shook it up, and I thought the producers did a great job making this possible for us to be in person and the whole Academy. As producers, it's hard to imagine what went into the making of this show, so we're very appreciative of that."

The official Academy Awards preshow, ‘Oscars: Into the Spotlight’ began airing on ABC at 6:30 pm ET. With Ariana DeBose and Lil Rel Howery as hosts, it offered a behind-the-scenes look at the big night with red carpet coverage and interviews. The main ceremony started at 8 PM ET on ABC.