Oscars 2014: 'Alone Yet Not Alone' Disqualified for Best Original Song

This is something of a shock: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided to disqualify the song "Alone Yet Not Alone," which was nominated in the Best Original Song category. The disqualification comes after an investigation into the practices of the song's writer, Bruce Broughton, a former governor and current music branch executive committee member, who supposedly sent encouraging emails to members of the Academy. When the final versions of the Academy ballots go out on Valentine's Day, "Alone Yet Not Alone" will not be a part of said ballot.

After the decision was made, Broughton told The Hollywood Reporter, "I'm devastated. I indulged in the simplest grassroots campaign and it went against me when the song started getting attention. I got taken down by competition that had months of promotion and advertising behind them. I simply asked people to find the song and consider it." To which we say: whoops.

The nomination for "Alone Yet Not Alone" has been frought with controversy from the get-go, with Broughton being pretty open about the email-writing campaign, although everything from the fact that the song's arranger, William Ross, was the musical director for last year's Oscar show (and will resume duties this year), to the movie's faith-based subject matter, has been called into question. The fact that such a marginal film was able to secure a nomination over other heavyweights was always fishy; now we know just how fishy.

Well, all that controversy has now been put out to pasture because the movie isn't in contention anymore. As if anything had a shot at dethroning "Let It Go" anyway.