Showbiz Desk
The Oscars have always been a platform for Hollywood to represent many topics related to films, be it socio-political, financial crises or anti-war outcries. This year, the Academy itself has been at the centre of the lack of diversity storm which began once the Oscar nominations were out.
For two consecutive years now, no person of colour has been nominated in any leading categories at the Oscars. The uproar got stronger when celebrities such as Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and director Spike Lee vowed to boycott the Oscar ceremony. However, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs has promised to take drastic steps to ensure fair representation at the Oscars.
In the past, celebs such as Marlon Brando, Vanessa Redgrave and Patricia Arquette have spoken on a range of topics instead of the longdrawn speeches of gratefulness.
Here’s a look at some of the speeches on the Oscars’ podium from the years gone by which left people suitably stunned. Watch:
Michael Moore
Michael Moore won the best documentary feature for Bowling For Columbine in 2003. After receiving the prestigious trophy, Moore lashed out at then President George Bush, accusing him of being involved in the Iraq War.
The American documentary-maker started his speech recalling the controversial Presidential elections of the year 2000 – George Bush Vs Al Gore. He said, “We live in the time where we have fictitious election results that elects a fictitious President. We live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons.” He continued, “We are against this war, Mr Bush. Shame on you, Mr Bush, shame on you,” he added, drawing both boos and cheers from the crowd.
Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins
Former couple Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins were banned from presenting awards at the Oscars. The two Oscar winners were invited to present the Oscar to the best film editor, but before presenting the award, they highlighted the issue of 250 HIV-Positive Haitians refugees who were barred from entering the country by the US government. Robbins began, “We’d like to call attention to 250 Haitians being quarantined in Cuba. Their crime? Testing positive for the HIV virus.”
Marlon Brando
Legendary actor Marlon Brando was in the middle of a controversy when he sent Sacheen Littlefeather to receive the Oscar on his behalf in 1973. Marlon, who received the award for his role in The Godfather, did not attend the ceremony as a sign of protest against the siege at Wounded Knee.
Sacheen Littlefeather, the president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee, presented the issue at the Oscars on behalf of Brando who had given her a 15-page speech. Littlefeather said, “(Brando) very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award. And the reasons for this are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry and on television in movie reruns, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee. I beg at this time that I have not intruded upon this evening and that we will in the future, our hearts and our understandings will meet with love and generosity.” After this event, The Academy banned accepting awards by proxy.
