LOS ANGELES, United States — Nearly 50 years after she
was booed off the Oscars stage for declining Marlon Brando’s award on his
behalf in protest at the film industry’s treatment of
Native Americans, Sacheen
Littlefeather has received an apology from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences, the group said Monday.
اضافة اعلان
Littlefeather, who is Apache and Yaqui, was heckled at the 1973 Academy
Awards while explaining at his behest why an absent Brando could not accept his
best actor Oscar for “The Godfather”.
She later said veteran Western star John Wayne had to be restrained from
physically assaulting her, in an incident that has since drawn comparisons with
Will Smith’s infamous attack on Chris Rock at this year’s ceremony.
“The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and
unjustified,” said the apology letter sent in June from then-Academy president
David Rubin.
“The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own
career in our industry are irreparable.
“For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. For this,
we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration.”
The Academy released the letter as it announced that Littlefeather has
been invited to speak at its film museum in
Los Angeles next month.
The museum, which opened last September, has pledged to confront the
Oscars’ “problematic history” including racism. One display already tackles the
harassment of Littlefeather.
“Regarding the Academy’s apology to me, we Indians are very patient
people — it’s only been 50 years!” Littlefeather said in a statement.
“We need to keep our sense of humor about this at all times. It’s our
method of survival,” said Littlefeather, describing the upcoming event as “a
dream come true.”
“It is profoundly heartening to see how much has changed since I did not
accept the Academy Award 50 years ago. I am so proud of each and every person who
will appear on stage,” she added.
‘Healing’
The Academy has moved to confront accusations of a
lack of racial diversity in recent years.
In 2019, “Last of the Mohicans” star Wes Studi became the first Native
American actor to receive an
Oscar, with an honorary Academy Award recognizing
his career.
Its museum has also hosted virtual events on women who achieved historic
Oscars milestones including a talk with Buffy Sainte-Marie — the first
Indigenous person to win an Oscar, for best original song in 1983.
“We didn’t want to erase films and artists and moments that may be
uncomfortable. We wanted to confront them and contextualize them, throughout
all of our core gallery spaces,” Bill Kramer, then the museum’s director, told
AFP ahead of its opening last year.
The Academy faced criticism for its handling of Smith’s assault on
comedian Rock during this year’s ceremony.
Smith — who went on to win the best actor award — marched on stage and
hit Rock for making a joke about his wife, in an incident that overshadowed the
March ceremony, being broadcast live around the world.
The
upcoming event with Littlefeather, dubbed a “very special program of
conversation, reflection, healing, and celebration,” will take place September
17.
Read more Trending
Jordan News
.jpg)
.jpg)
