Non-existent film Hidden Fences has made an unfortunate appearance at the Oscars in Los Angeles.
People editor Jess Cagle slipped up on the red carpet as he conflated the titles of two separate nominated movies, Fences and Hidden Figures.
Speaking on ABC Cagle said: “You just happen to have these extraordinary movies like Hidden Fences and Moonlight” … before correcting himself.
I knew we'd get our #HiddenFences before the night was over. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/NXpfg7JVmu
— Travon Free (@Travon) February 27, 2017
At the Golden Globes last month, a journalist speaking to Pharrell Williams also made the mistake as did actor Michael Keaton as he presented an award.
Fences is the big screen adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play starring Denzel Washington as a tough-talking father, while Hidden Figures tells the true story of three black women who helped Nasa send their first astronauts into space.
Oscars viewers used Twitter to criticise Cagle for confusing the pair, and accused those who had made the mistake of racism.
"The movie #HiddenFences is such a great film. I haven't seen it but I hear from white people that it has black people, who are very funny."
— MR.FOETUS 🍕 (@oniganger) February 27, 2017
just because it's two great black movies nominated don't mean you white people have to count it as one! #HiddenFences
— Christopher (@veeleonard) February 27, 2017
#HiddenFences is really the ultimate "all black people look alike"
— Roger Murtaugh (@Teddypinderass) February 27, 2017
Can someone just make a movie called #HiddenFences? Apparently white people are too dumb to keep 2 films w/black actors separate. #Oscars
— Joshua Fink (@joshjfink) February 27, 2017
I'm gon write a screenplay called #HiddenFences about 3 black women getting their cheating husbands to build a fence in space around Earth.
— (tee-durl), M.A. (@TheTDExperience) January 21, 2017
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