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Border Collie Messi, here next to his owner and trainer Laura Martin Contini, at the Oscars.

Or maybe not?

Photo: Caroline Brehman / EPA

And the Oscar for Best Deception goes to – the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science?

After the Oscars ceremony went largely smoothly this year, other recordings are now causing a stir on the Internet.

They are intended to show that one of the big surprises at the largely surprise-free event was not real.

It's about border collie Messi, who plays the guide dog Snoop alongside Sandra Hülser in "Anatomy of a Case."

He is said to have sat down among the stars at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles - ceremoniously decked out in a bow tie and equipped with mechanical paws for clapping.

His applause for Robert Downey Jr., who won Best Supporting Actor, became an instant internet hit.

A coup for the organizing Academy.

A little later, however, completely different recordings appeared online.

They are intended to show that Messi did not take part in the award ceremony himself.

The images, shared among others by Chris Gardner, columnist for the industry newspaper “The Hollywood Reporter,” suggest: The scenes were recorded in advance – and recorded later.

The Academy itself has not yet commented on these images.

Messi is part of the cast of the film “Anatomy of a Case,” which won the Oscar for Best Screenplay.

In an important scene, his tongue hangs out of the side of his mouth and his eyes are rolled back.

Messi had already been able to play dead, Laura Martin Contini told the industry publication “Variety”.

But she worked every day for two months to ensure that the dog remained in this lethargic state.

"I'm a little worried that he will now be assigned to roles in which he has to die," said the trainer.

They have now received many offers for this.

In fact, Messi is so good that he won the “Palm Dog” award at the Cannes Film Festival last year.

One of the best performances, according to the jury's praise.

At the Academy Awards, however, animal guests are the exception.

In 2012, Uggie made it big in Hollywood.

The Jack Russell Terrier was famous for his appearance in the Oscar-winning, black-and-white silent film "The Artist" alongside French star Jean Dujardin.

He was on stage with the ensemble at the Oscar Gala.

He was also the first film dog to be honored with a paw print in cement on the square in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

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