Spike Lee accidentally reveals the Palme d’Or winner at Cannes Film Festival

Spike Lee made a spectacular blunder when he revealed the winner of the Palme d’Or prize at the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday. 

The esteemed director, 64, who led the festival’s nine-member award jury this year, took to the stage to announce the award winners and misunderstood the host when she asked him to read ‘which prize is the first prize’.

Following the unclear instructions, Spike instead revealed the winner of the festival’s top prize before anything else, announcing the prestigious award had gone to Titane directed by Julia Ducournau.

Oops! Cannes Film Festival Jury President Spike Lee accidentally revealed the Palme d’Or winner before presenting awards in spectacular blunder during Saturday’s closing ceremony

The award marks only the second time ever that a female director has won the top prize at the festival in its 74-year history.   

The horror film stars Vincent Lindon, Agathe Rousselle, Garance Marillier and Laïs Salameh, the former two joined Julia on stage.

Despite the mistake, Julia warmly shook Spike’s hand as she comforted him for making the high-profile mishap when she accepted the award.  

The director also embraced actress Sharon Stone as she accepted the prize, while Spike continued to look sheepish behind them. 

Error: The esteemed director, 64, prematurely revealed that Titane directed by Julia Ducournau (left) had won the top prize

Oh dear: Spike was seen sitting with his head in his hands after making the mistake

Winner: Spike was seen chatting with Julia after revealing she’d won the coveted Palme d’Or

Panic: Despite the mishap, Julia warmly shook Spike’s hand as she comforted him for making the high-profile mishap as she accepted the award

Joking around: Spike was seen chatting animatedly with Maggie Gyllenhaal after the mistake

The slip up is reminiscent of the hilarious moment when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway incorrectly announced that La La Land had won the Best Picture Award at the Oscars in 2017. 

In a heart-stopping moment, the stars and producers of La La Land were stopped midway through their acceptance speeches and forced to hand their trophies to the stars of Moonlight after their film was announced as Best Picture in one of the biggest blunders in Oscar history. 

The terrible end to an otherwise triumphant show left the audience gasping in horror as Beatty revealed he had incorrectly read La La Land as the winner.  

Prize: Julia’s prize marks only the second time a female director has won it (Julia with Sharon, Spike and Titane stars Vincent Lindon, centre, and Agathe Rousselle, second right)

Chaos: The director also embraced actress Sharon Stone as she accepted the prize, while Spike continued to look sheepish behind them

Emotional: Julia appeared tearful as she accepted the award from Sharon

Work it! Sharon looked stunning as she stepped out on stage to present the Plame d’Or award during the closing ceremony

Winner: Rosamund Pike gave director Nadav Lapid the Jury Prize award for the film Ha’berech (Ahed’s Knee / Le genou d’Ahed)

Host with the most: Rosamund was seen talking to the audience during the awards show

While Spike may have suffered a presenting slip up, he brought style to the stage in an eye catching sky print suit. 

The edgy ombre outfit blended from blues to purples, pinks, yellows and turquoise shades in a mesmerising abstract pattern. 

He layered the rainbow ensemble over a plain white shirt and a classy black satin tie. 

Unafraid to accessorise, Spike completed his outfit with a black and red hat, a chunky cross necklace and a pair of striking orange glasses.  

Edgy: While Spike may have suffered a presenting slip up, he brought style to the stage in an eye catching sky print suit

Wow: The edgy ombre outfit blended from blues to purples, pinks, yellows and turquoise shades in a mesmerising abstract pattern

Colourful: Unafraid to accessorise, Spike completed his outfit with a black and red hat, a chunky cross necklace and a pair of striking orange glasses