Calay News
Marlon Brando, a legendary actor who won multiple Oscars throughout his career, shocked the world in 1973 when he rejected his Academy Award for Best Actor in The Godfather. Brando had already won the Best Actor trophy for On the Waterfront, but this time he decided to send Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather in his place to refuse the award.
Littlefeather took the stage at the ceremony and explained Brando’s absence by saying that he could not accept the award due to the treatment of American Indians by the film industry. She received a mix of applause and boos from the audience as she made her speech, in which she asked for love and generosity in the future.
Brando was an outspoken advocate for the rights of Native Americans and had even visited the Wounded Knee protest in South Dakota earlier that year. He believed that Hollywood was exploiting Native American culture and perpetuating harmful stereotypes in their films.
Although his decision was met with controversy and criticism, Brando’s refusal to accept the award sparked an important conversation about the representation of marginalized groups in the entertainment industry. He used his platform to bring attention to a cause he was passionate about and to challenge the status quo.
The Academy Awards organization eventually apologized to Littlefeather for the way she was treated during the ceremony and recognized the importance of Brando’s gesture. They acknowledged that his refusal to accept the award was a form of protest and a call for change.
Brando’s decision to reject his Oscar is still remembered today as a bold and impactful moment in the history of the Academy Awards. It serves as a reminder of the power that artists have to use their influence to effect change and make a difference in the world.
