Washington: Famous Hollywood actor Marlon Brando turned down an Oscar for his film ‘Godfather’, protesting the negative portrayal of indigenous peoples in American cinema. To signal his rejection, Marlon Brando sent Native American actress and activist Sasine Lightfeather to the 45th Oscars in his place.
When Marlon Brando’s Oscar for ‘Godfather’ is announced on the Oscars stage, Sasine Littlefeather refuses to accept the award and begins to talk about why Brando turned it down.
Some of the actors make teasing noises while interrupting Saseen’s speech. However, undeterred, Saseen finishes speaking for 60 seconds.
Earlier, Sasine was to give an 8-page speech on why Marlon Brando turned down an Oscar. Due to threats of arrest at the Oscars, he would finish his speech in 60 seconds and give a full speech at the press conference. More than 8 crore people watched his speech live on television.
Just a reminder that it took 6 security guards to keep John Wayne from rushing the stage and attack Sacheen Littlefeather at the Academy Awards while Clint Eastwood mocked her request of TV and Film industry to treat indigenous people as humans. pic.twitter.com/ewX2G6hVHU
— AskAubry (@ask_aubry) August 16, 2022
He was heavily criticized for Sasine’s speech on the Oscar stage. He is not truly Native American; He talks about his film career. She was heavily criticized by the media for being Brando’s girlfriend, but Sasine consistently denied all this.
In this situation, almost 50 years have passed since the incident that took place in 1973, the Oscar Academy has now apologized.
David Rubin, former president of the Oscar Academy, said, “What you experienced on the Oscar stage that day was unnecessary and unfair. Your speech at the 45th Academy continues to remind us of the need for respect and the importance of human dignity.”
“American tribes are very patient,” Sassin says of the apology. Look, it has been 50 years for this apology,” he said sarcastically.
Along with the apology, the Oscar Academy has invited Saseen to be a special guest at a special event on behalf of the Oscars on September 17.