It’s going to be interesting to see how the ongoing #MeToo and #TimesUp movements impact the upcoming Academy Awards, but one of the most potentially explosive moments of the night isn’t going to happen. But first, a bit of background.
Last year, Casey Affleck won Best Actor at the Oscars for his performance in “Manchester By The Sea,” but his moment in the spotlight developed a different resonance when it became quite clear that Brie Larson — who as the previous year’s winner for Best Actress presented him with him the trophy, as is tradition — was the only one in the room who didn’t applaud the actor.
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During that year’s awards season, Affleck managed to deflect queries about the settlements he made with the producer and cinematographer of his mockumentary “I’m Still Here.” The accusations of harassment against Affleck were fairly serious, with Magdalena Gorka, the director of photography on the picture, having claimed the treatment she received from the filmmaker was “the most traumatizing of her career.” Among the allegations, one night during production, she woke up to find him “curled up next to her in the bed wearing only his underwear and a T-shirt. He had his arm around her, was caressing her back, his face was within inches of hers and his breath reeked of alcohol.” She quit “I’m Still Here” after that incident. She was one of two women who accused Affleck of inappropriate behavior during the making of “I’m Still Here,” and both of their cases were settled.
Fast forward to this year, and with #MeToo and #TimesUp louder than ever, there were some questions about whether or not it was appropriate for Affleck, following Oscar tradition, to present Best Actress. Well, he’s solved a tricky problem for the Academy.
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Deadline reports that Affleck has withdrawn from the show, reportedly not wanting to become a distraction at the ceremony, and aiming to keep the focus on the nominees for Best Actress. It’s a decision that deflates what must’ve been an unwelcome scenario for the Academy.
The Oscars will air on March 4th.
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