Article from the LA Times.
http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-92668029/Seems there are duplicate sets of "winner" envelopes, held on both sides of the stage by the accounting firm. It's standard practice and someone simply goofed and handed Beatty the dupe card with the previously done, Best Actress award winner. One would think that the outside of each envelope would also have been stamped or labeled, saying "Best Actor," "Best Score" etc. So it all seems confusing, in that sense.
It's too bad that Beatty didnt think on his feet a little quicker, maybe do a little humorous aside or something with Dunaway and also signal to someone or call Kimmel over, to ask about what he was seeing on that card. I know it's live TV, but he and Dunaway are seasoned pros.
Ah well. It made for some publicity and headlines.
If nothing else, it took a good bit of the thunder away from the
Moonlight win, but they all handled it well, imo.