Sacheen Littlefeather

Sacheen Littlefeather went onto the Academy Awards stage on behalf of Marlon Brando to speak about the depiction of Native Americans in Hollywood.

Rubin called Littlefeather’s speech “a powerful statement that continues to remind us of the necessity of respect and the importance of human dignity.” For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. The 1973 Oscars were held during the American Indian Movement’s two-month occupation of Wounded Knee in South Dakota.

Almost 50 years after she was booed on the Oscars stage for declining Marlon Brando's award on his behalf, Sacheen Littlefeather has received an apology ...

"We need to keep our sense of humor about this at all times. The Academy released the letter as it announced that Littlefeather, now 75, has been invited to speak at its film museum in Los Angeles on September 17. "For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged.

Actress, activist Littlefeather receives apology for treatment during and after speech about portrayal of Native Americans on film - Anadolu Agency.

For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration," Rubin said. Native American activist and actress Sacheen Littlefeather (Apache/Yaqui/AZ) invites you to a special evening at the Academy Museum.— Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (@AcademyMuseum) Nearly 50 years later, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences apologized to Native American actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather for her treatment at the 45th Academy Awards in 1973, when she spoke up for Indigenous rights on stage.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has apologized to Native American actor Sacheen Littlefeather, almost 50 years after her appearance at the ...

The first Native American Indian woman, the first woman of color to ever make a statement at the Academy Awards, telling the truth about the way that it really is. "The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified. "For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. In the documentary Sacheen: Breaking the Silence,she said she had been blacklisted by Hollywood as a result of her speech. That I had done something, that I was the first to make a statement, a political statement. She gave a passionate speech on his behalf but was met by a largely negative response from the audience.

Littlefeather claimed Wayne had to be held back by six security guards while trying to accost her on stage at the 1973 Oscars.

"The Academy essentially killed her career and was nearly assaulted by John Wayne for doing it," they wrote. Journalist and author Richard Newby was similarly scathing in his assessment of the incident, writing: "John Wayne will always be a punk and I don't think movie clips of him should be shown at the Oscars again. "Absolutely disgraceful and speaks to the arrogance of these people." Brando had hoped the protest would shine a light on the occupation of Wounded Knee in South Dakota, which had begun a month earlier. Wayne wasn't the only star to express his disdain. For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration."

The Oscars apologized to Native American actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather 50 years after she suffered harassment and discrimination for.

During the time of her speech, the town was placed under a media blackout by the US Department of Justice. “When I was at the podium in 1973, I stood there alone.” and on television, in movie reruns, and also with happening at Wounded Knee.” “I was stunned. For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration.”

Nearly 50 years after her speech on behalf of Marlon Brando about depiction of Native Americans, academy apologises for 'unwarranted and unjustified' ...

In 2021, Littlefeather told the Guardian that she arrived at the ceremony only a few minutes before Brando’s award was announced, and had been given an eight-page speech by Brando to read if he won. I went up there with the grace and the beauty and the courage and the humility of my people. The Oscars took place in March, and the occupation ended in May after agreement with federal authorities to disarm. However, the show’s director Howard Koch told her she could only have 60 seconds and so she improvised a speech instead. “I never thought I’d live to see the day,” she added. The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences apologized to Sacheen Littlefeather, who declined an Oscar on Marlon Brando's behalf and was ostracized in ...

“I could not and was not allowed to speak for myself,” she said. In an interview on “The Dick Cavett Show” several months later, Brando said he was embarrassed by how Littlefeather was treated. She was let in, but the show’s producer said she could not read the speech. “When I was at the podium in 1973, I stood there alone.” She introduced herself and explained why she was there. She said she was there as Brando’s representative. He specifically instructed her not to touch the statuette, she recalled. “The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified. It was the first time a Native American woman had stood on the Oscars stage, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and her statement on behalf of Brando created shock waves. In 2020, it introduced diversity and inclusion standards that films must meet to qualify for a best picture nomination, following criticism that the Oscars were dominated by White actors and filmmakers. Despite the efforts, Hollywood continues to struggle with representation of women and ethnic minorities. The year was 1973.

Nearly 50 years after Sacheen Littlefeather stood on the Academy Awards stage on behalf of Marlon Brando to speak about the depiction of Indigenous people ...

For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration." "The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified," wrote Rubin. "The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable. In making the announcement, the Academy Museum shared a letter sent June 18 to Littlefeather by David Rubin, then academy president, about the iconic Oscar moment.

The Apache activist and actress was booed onstage in 1973 after she refused the best actor award on Marlon Brando's behalf and criticized Hollywood for its ...

She said some audience members did the so-called “tomahawk chop” at her and that when she went to Mr. Brando’s house later, people shot at the doorway where she was standing. “When I went back to Marlon’s house, there was an incident with people shooting at me,” she said. “For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged,” Mr. Rubin wrote. Ms. Littlefeather said she had little information about how the night would work, but Mr. Brando had given her a speech to read if he won. She paused when a mix of boos and cheers erupted from the audience. As an editor at The Times, I’ve worked with many of them, and I can tell you these are thoughtful people who have dedicated themselves to one thing: helping you understand the world. The former president of the Academy, David Rubin, wrote in the apology to Ms. Littlefeather that the abuse she faced because of the speech was “unwarranted and unjustified.” When Ms. Littlefeather, then 26, spoke, some of the audience cheered her and others jeered. Our reporters produce hundreds of original articles every day, from places as far afield as Kyiv, London, Uvalde and Sacramento. These journalists travel widely to get as complete a picture as they can. “And I focused in on the mouths and the jaws that were dropping open in the audience, and there were quite a few,” she told the Academy. “But it was like looking into a sea of Clorox, you know, there were very few people of color in the audience.” They are committed to remaining curious, keeping an open mind and seeking out every voice. I’d like to encourage you to support journalism like this by becoming a subscriber.

Motion Picture Academy officials have apologized to Sacheen Littlefeather for abuse she was subjected to when she declined an Academy Award on behalf of Marlon Brando in 1973. Copyright 2022 NPR.

DEL BARCO: In June, David Rubin, then-president of the Academy, sent Littlefeather a letter of apology. DEL BARCO: Sacheen Littlefeather's 1973 speech is featured at the Academy's museum, where she'll be the guest of honor at an event next month. LITTLEFEATHER: I have a friend who was with a particular studio, and she told me, Sacheen, the FBI were just here, and they told us that if we would ever hire you, they would shut us down, shut our production down. And now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is trying to make it up to the woman who was his stand-in. And she repeated her story to the Academy on their official podcast this summer. LITTLEFEATHER: People were making money off of that racism of the Hollywood Indian.

In 1973, Littlefeather represented Marlon Brando at the Oscars, declining his Best Actor award for "The Godfather."

"The Academy also wanted to right a wrong, and this was a wrong. And the fact that it took 50 years to figure that out, well, that's on their bad, but the fact that they are fixing it and that there is an Indigenous Alliance in the Academy is so important," said Kevin Frazier, of "Entertainment Tonight." Now, the Academy has issued an apology for the "unwarranted and unjustified" abuse she suffered that night and in the years and decades afterward.