The Academy has apologised to Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American activist and actress booed off stage at the Oscars nearly 50 years ago.
She appeared on live TV in 1973 to refuse an Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando, who had won the best actor prize for The Godfather.
Brando rejected the award because of misrepresentation of Native Americans by the US film industry.
The Academy said Littlefeather endured “unwarranted and unjustified” abuse.
“I never thought I’d live to see the day I would be hearing this,” she told the Hollywood Reporter.
Littlefeather, then 26, was heckled and shunned by the entertainment industry following her brief speech at the awards.
Her speech was, organisers said, the first political statement at the televised ceremony – beginning a trend which continues to this day.
Introducing herself on behalf of Brando – who wrote “a very long speech” – she briefly told the audience “that he very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award”.
“And the reasons for this being the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry and on television in movie re-runs, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee,” she said – in reference to a violent stand-off with federal agents at a site of significant importance to the Sioux people.
She was met with boos – and some cheers – from the audience.
In 2020, Littlefeather told the BBC that straight after the speech she had to leave the stage with two security guards. But, she added, it “was a very good thing” as actor John Wayne was backstage (secured by six security men); she said he was “furious with Marlon and furious with me” and wanted to pull her off stage himself.
Credit: bbc.com
