By AFP
LOS ANGELES: Almost 5 a long time after she refused an Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando over the therapy of Native Americans by the US movie trade, Sacheen Littlefeather was honored Saturday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
In a transferring ceremony in Los Angeles stuffed with singing and dancing, the Academy publicly apologized to Littlefeather, who was feted by activists within the wake of her protest, however blackballed by the film world.
Littlefeather, who’s Apache and Yaqui, was booed on the 1973 Academy Awards — the primary to be broadcast dwell around the globe — whereas explaining on Brando’s behalf why he wouldn’t settle for his finest actor Oscar for “The Godfather.”
On Saturday she informed a packed viewers on the Academy’s newly-opened museum how she had arrived on the ceremony simply minutes earlier than she took the stage as a result of Brando had taken so lengthy writing his non-acceptance speech.
“I went up there, like a proud Indian woman with dignity, with courage, with grace, and with humility,” she stated.
“I knew that I had to speak the truth. Some people may accept it. And some people may not.”
She was greeted on stage by Norwegian actress Liv Ullmann and “James Bond” star Roger Moore, who proffered the statuette she refused to just accept.
Under strict directions from Academy managers to not give an acceptance speech longer than 60 seconds, she delivered as a substitute a dignified impromptu handle.
“I said okay, and I had made this promise to Marlon (Brando) not to touch the Oscar. And so I wasn’t under any pressure that night,” Littlefeather quipped.
She stated veteran Western star John Wayne needed to be restrained from bodily assaulting her as she left the stage.
Littlefeather, a member of the Screen Actors’ Guild, subsequently discovered it tough to get work in Hollywood, with casting administrators warned to not make use of her.
ALSO READ | Film academy apologises to Littlefeather who confronted harassment for 1973 Oscars speech on Native Americans
‘Courage’
Former Academy president David Rubin, who penned the apology earlier this 12 months, took to the stage to learn his phrases, which invoked “the emotional burden” Littlefeather bore and “the cost to your own career.”
“For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration.”
Rubin’s apology comes because the film trade reckons with what many view as a tradition of sexism, racism and impunity.
“The academy and our industry finds itself at an inflection point,” Rubin stated on Saturday. “We are actively examining our past and focusing on how best we can facilitate healing.”
The museum, which opened final September, has pledged to confront the Oscars’ “problematic history” together with racism. One show already tackles the harassment of Littlefeather.
The Academy has additionally moved to confront accusations of an absence of racial variety in recent times.
In 2019, “Last of the Mohicans” star Wes Studi turned the primary Native American actor to obtain an Oscar, with an honorary Academy Award recognizing his profession.
Its museum has additionally beforehand hosted occasions on girls who achieved historic Oscars milestones together with a chat with Buffy Sainte-Marie — the primary Indigenous particular person to win an Oscar, for finest authentic music in 1983.
Asked by reporters forward of the ceremony how she felt about having to attend so lengthy to listen to the phrase “sorry”, Littlefeather was philosophical.
“It’s never too late for an apology,” she stated.
“It’s never too late for forgiveness.”
LOS ANGELES: Almost 5 a long time after she refused an Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando over the therapy of Native Americans by the US movie trade, Sacheen Littlefeather was honored Saturday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
In a transferring ceremony in Los Angeles stuffed with singing and dancing, the Academy publicly apologized to Littlefeather, who was feted by activists within the wake of her protest, however blackballed by the film world.
Littlefeather, who’s Apache and Yaqui, was booed on the 1973 Academy Awards — the primary to be broadcast dwell around the globe — whereas explaining on Brando’s behalf why he wouldn’t settle for his finest actor Oscar for “The Godfather.”
On Saturday she informed a packed viewers on the Academy’s newly-opened museum how she had arrived on the ceremony simply minutes earlier than she took the stage as a result of Brando had taken so lengthy writing his non-acceptance speech.
“I went up there, like a proud Indian woman with dignity, with courage, with grace, and with humility,” she stated.
“I knew that I had to speak the truth. Some people may accept it. And some people may not.”
She was greeted on stage by Norwegian actress Liv Ullmann and “James Bond” star Roger Moore, who proffered the statuette she refused to just accept.
Under strict directions from Academy managers to not give an acceptance speech longer than 60 seconds, she delivered as a substitute a dignified impromptu handle.
“I said okay, and I had made this promise to Marlon (Brando) not to touch the Oscar. And so I wasn’t under any pressure that night,” Littlefeather quipped.
She stated veteran Western star John Wayne needed to be restrained from bodily assaulting her as she left the stage.
Littlefeather, a member of the Screen Actors’ Guild, subsequently discovered it tough to get work in Hollywood, with casting administrators warned to not make use of her.
ALSO READ | Film academy apologises to Littlefeather who confronted harassment for 1973 Oscars speech on Native Americans
‘Courage’
Former Academy president David Rubin, who penned the apology earlier this 12 months, took to the stage to learn his phrases, which invoked “the emotional burden” Littlefeather bore and “the cost to your own career.”
“For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration.”
Rubin’s apology comes because the film trade reckons with what many view as a tradition of sexism, racism and impunity.
“The academy and our industry finds itself at an inflection point,” Rubin stated on Saturday. “We are actively examining our past and focusing on how best we can facilitate healing.”
The museum, which opened final September, has pledged to confront the Oscars’ “problematic history” together with racism. One show already tackles the harassment of Littlefeather.
The Academy has additionally moved to confront accusations of an absence of racial variety in recent times.
In 2019, “Last of the Mohicans” star Wes Studi turned the primary Native American actor to obtain an Oscar, with an honorary Academy Award recognizing his profession.
Its museum has additionally beforehand hosted occasions on girls who achieved historic Oscars milestones together with a chat with Buffy Sainte-Marie — the primary Indigenous particular person to win an Oscar, for finest authentic music in 1983.
Asked by reporters forward of the ceremony how she felt about having to attend so lengthy to listen to the phrase “sorry”, Littlefeather was philosophical.
“It’s never too late for an apology,” she stated.
“It’s never too late for forgiveness.”
