Samsung denies DeGeneres' Oscars selfie a marketing stunt

Samsung says the Oscars selfie that went viral was a “surprise for everyone”, after reports it was part of a pre-planned marketing stunt by the company, a sponsor of the Academy Awards.

But the South Korean tech giant, which earned huge publicity when Ellen DeGeneres used a Samsung device to take the photo, said it would donate $3 million (€2.16m) to charities of the Oscar host’s choice.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the stunt “wasn’t entirely unplanned”, saying that a Samsung smartphone was used in the show as part of a sponsorship and $20m advertising deal with Oscar broadcasters ABC.