82nd Oscars get their Kanye West moment

[HMG] – In a story that further illustrates the vast scale of egos involved, last night’s Oscars saw what many are calling their own ‘Kanye West moment’ when the independent film,  ‘Music by Prudence’ won ‘Best Documentary Short.’

Shot on a budget lower than most of the winners spent on their hair the film explores the life of Prudence Mabhena, a bright, happy 21-year-old from Zimbabwe who has Arthrogryposis – a congenital disorder that has crippled her arms and legs. Yet she’s now a composer and musician who leads a marimba band in her native country.

Few people expected ‘Prudence’ to win, so when the award was declared the Director and co-producer, Roger Ross Williams ran to the stage. But he was soon interrupted by assistant producer, Elinor Burkett who brushed Williams aside to bask in the spotlight.

As the pair were engaged in a lawsuit and Burkitt had also renounced any link to the movie, the Academy had ruled only Williams could speak if it won. But ignoring such minor details as rules, Burkitt ambushed her colleague, then spent the whole night blaming everyone else.

“He raced up there to accept the award,” Popeater quotes her as whining. “And his mother took her cane and blocked me, so I couldn’t get up there very fast.”

Remember, she wasn’t allowed to be up there at all. But her big scene as the victim”s not done;

“The movie was my idea,” says Burkitt. “I also felt my role has been denigrated again and again, and it wasn’t going to happen this time.”

Williams, meanwhile, seemed quite put out; “She just ambushed me,” he said. “I was sort of in shock. She pulled a Kanye. And it’s a shame, because this is such a positive, happy film.”

So did his Mother ‘block’ Burkitt from sharing a stage she had no right to enter? “My mother just got up to hug me,” says Williams. “And she’s 87-years old. She was excited.”

Back in Zimbabwe, Roger’s sister was quite clear how she felt on the insult;

“I can’t believe he won!” she said from her apartment in Whitehall Township. “But he’s a real gentle guy. That’s why Miss Pain-in-the-Butt could interrupt like that.”

And you thought all the drama was up on the screen? — This pair could be a movie themselves. And don’t expect it to end here — even with PR this bad, something tells me ‘Miss Pain-in-the-Butt’ is nowhere near done milking this…