Elinor Burkett Provides Oscar Night's 'Kanye' Moment

By Marc Schneider Posted Mar 8th 2010 09:09AM

Maybe it went semi-unnoticed because they were accepting one of the night's lower-profile awards, but the personal tiff between 'Music by Prudence' producer Elinor Burkett and director-producer Roger Ross Williams spilled over on stage at Sunday's Oscars, causing one of the night's weirder moments.

In what is being dubbed the "Kanye" moment of the night, Burkett rushed the stage while Williams was doing his thank-yous and verbally nudged him aside so she could speak. The problem is that she was not supposed to accept the award, and because of personal animosity between the two filmmakers, she said Williams rushed to the stage while his cane-wielding mother blocked Burkett from exiting the aisle.

In an interview with Salon, Burkett said she was shut out of Oscar-related events and because the two aren't speaking to each other (related to a lawsuit over the film), they did not discuss who would be allowed to speak if they won.

So, when their names WERE called, "he raced up there to accept the award. And his mother took her cane and blocked me. So I couldn't get up there very fast." WATCH:

The film is a story of a Zimbabwean singer-songwriter who was born severely disabled, but Burkett tells Salon it was supposed to be about a whole band, and not just Prudence. "The movie was my idea," she says. "I live in Zimbabwe. Roger had never even heard of Zimbabwe before I told him about this."

By Oscar night, her frustration had boiled over. "You know, I felt my role in this [film] has been denigrated again and again, and it wasn't going to happen this time."

Williams, also speaking to Salon, argued that Burkett disowned the film because of the creative differences, but that she was still eligible for an award. He says the academy decided he would be the one to speak if they won.

"She just ambushed me," he said of the moment she emerged on stage. "I was sort of in shock."

So, did his mom really try to speech-block Burkett with her cane? "My mother got up to hug me," he says. "And my mother is 87 years old. She was excited."

Williams can't help but agree this situation was similar to Kanye West's interruption of Taylor Swift at last year's MTV VMAs

"She did! She pulled a Kanye. And it's a shame, because this is such positive, happy film."

Tags: Oscars2010

Comments

(377)

Monday 08 March

By blah

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It was a rude move, but if she wasn't supposed to be up there, why do the presenters have 2 Oscars on stage, and why did the little blonde presenter have that "Who is this statue for?" look on her face when just the one guy came up?

By Sahib Wieben

Blah & Miamiprep have it right. IF only Mr. Williams was supposed to be accepting, then WHY were BOTH names announced AND TWO Oscars on stage?

Regardless of the background or mom's with canes, BOTH Mr. Williams AND Ms. Burkett obviously BELONGED on that stage. Unfortunate that Mr. Williams forged on, without regard for his CO acceptor of that Oscar!

You go girl is more on the mark this time!

Observer

By Susan

What ever happened to being "gracious".. Very rude and egotistical women..She could have put "the win" on her resume but now has proof on film of how rude she is..

By ashleigh

It initially seemed like a rude "Kanye" moment, but there were TWO Oscars to hand out, and the Academy NEVER decides for filmmakers who will be doing the speaking, which is why several people often have a say at the microphone... SHE lives in Zimbabewe, SHE thought of this whole thing, including the whole band, not just one singer, and she wanted to make sure they ALL got credit, not just Prudence... It was bizarre, but the background story on this has made me decide she had the right to be up there, and that right was almost being denied to her. He stood up there acting like he was the only winner, never even acknowledging her, even though TWO names were announced, and TWO Oscars were in the hands of the girls to hand out...

By jzz3333

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Great move! She said enough is enough and wasn't going to let this guy muscle her out again. Too cool!
And after watching Taylor sing so out of tune with Stevie Nicks, I am, begrudgingly, developing empathy for Kayne.

By Big Johnson

OY VEY!!!!....is there no end to the suffering of my people??...

By hugh

Even if she had an Oscar waiting for her,the proper and polite thing to have done was to wait until his remarks were finished (which he classfully did when she barged up there like an elephant and interrupted him)--she and Kanye don't seem to have the class for awards..

Tuesday 09 March

By schlumbug

I agree two awards, two names, etc. however, it WAS a Kanye moment: rude, inappropriate, self-serving and thoughtless. You go girl? ok, cause you sure couldn't say, classy act, lady. There was a way to go that would have preserved everyone's dignity as Williams attempted to do in an awkward situation. She should have followed suit.

By Suz

She has NO class! She was extremely rude and could have waited her turn instead of cutting him right off! Show some class next time bully!

By Jon

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The writer clearly wrote that the oscars decided he would accept the award, because of the law suit and animosity they had between one another they did not want both up there together and the clip shows why. She was not supposed to speak just like kanye was not,and both did anyway,she should get the same treatment he got simple and plain,Gotta love how some people try to make distinctions between the two situations.

By J

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Agree

By C

She was an intruding, obnoxious loud mouth who should have kept her seat.

By Chanelxx

Well said!

By Bob

Yeah... they need to post a sniper in the wings... then when classless skanks like this one try to hi-jack the proceedings they can hit her with a tranquilizer dart and haul her off-stage....
Too much? Just a thought that seemed appropriate.... Sorry.

By michael

I cudn't agree more.. She's NO lady for sure!!!

By Wendy

Why would she keep her seat?? Her name was clearly called!! If I was her, I would've waited beside him & let him finish. But that's just me.

By forkuu

what do you know? her name was announced there were two oscars to hand out she was there why shouldnt she go on stage ? and the academy does not decide who gets to accept oscar. this guy just wanted to hog the limelight . people like you need to deal with reality.

By tee

You are obviously unaware of what took place prior to the awards. Why is it if a woman is being put in a position where she is left with no other choice than to muscle herself into the spot she so rightfully has earned she is view in a negitive light. However, if a man were to charge in, NO PROBLEM... it is time for the double standard to end. Let's face the fact, she won also, and she had every right to be up there and get her award, and make her speech. Her associate should have had the class to wait or at least aknowledge her as she was trying to make her way up to the stage.

By pugz

isnt that what the word "Kanye" means in whatever language they speak in Zimbabwe.

By Mary Duffy

Amen. She was simply rude and obnoxious. If she can watch the tape and like herself, then she must have a shortage of friends, as she has NO interpersonal skills.
Woman: Buy a manners book!

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