'Prudence' Winners Argue About 'Kanye Moment'

(NewsCore) - When Academy Award winner Elinor Burkett wrestled the microphone from co-winner Roger Ross Williams during their acceptance speech for best documentary short film at the Oscars on Sunday night she just seemed eager to have her moment.

But Williams, the film's director, revealed Monday that he was shocked when producer Burkett cut off his speech during the 82nd Academy Awards ceremony.

The incident has been likened to Kanye West storming the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards last year while Taylor Swift was accepting her award for best female video.

"It was a little shocking," he said on Larry King Live.

"I was there to talk about Prudence, we were there to honor Prudence and her incredible message."

The winning film "Music by Prudence" documented the life of Prudence Mabhena, a 21-year-old from Zimbabwe who has arthrogryposis, a congenital disorder that crippled her arms and legs, but still leads a marimba band.

When the documentary was announced as the winner of the Oscar Williams made his way to the stage, but had only uttered a few words when Burkett appeared alongside and took over the spotlight.

It was revealed by E!Online Monday that Burkett removed herself from the project almost a year ago due to creative differences.

The Academy had also pre-warned nominees in that category that only one person was permitted to speak on stage.

"The Academy is very clear that only one person can speak," Williams told Salon.com Sunday.

"I own the film. She has no claim whatsoever. She has nothing to do with the movie. She just ambushed me. I was sort of in shock."

Burkett hit back, accusing Williams' elderly mother of trying to block her passage to the stage with her cane.

"As I'm sure you saw, when we won, he raced up there to accept the award," Burkett told Salon.com.

"And his mother took her cane and blocked me. So I couldn't get up there very fast."

Williams called the cane allegation "ridiculous".

"My mother got up to hug me. My mother is 87-years-old and has bad knees. She just got excited like any mother would," he said.