Three days after the segment in question aired, the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences has issued a formal apology for using a photo of someone who’s very much alive in the annual In Memoriam reel. On Sunday, Jan Chapman, a producer on The Piano, was horrified to see a picture of herself in place of one of her late colleague, Janet Patterson. Chapman and Patterson worked together on The Piano, where the latter served as costume designer. Chapman spoke up about the matter on Monday, and now the Academy has apologized to her as well as Patterson’s family.
The Academy even managed to track down a photo of Patterson to include in the apology. Instagram is an interesting choice as the place to issue the missive, but maybe the organizers just wanted to get it out sooner than later.