Oscars finally apologizes to actress after 50 years

• The actress protested against Marlon Brando accepting an Oscar for The Godfather.
• John Wayne wanted to yank her off- Sacheen Littlefeather.
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has apologised to her for the incident.

The Oscars have expressed regret for booing Sacheen Littlefeather off stage nearly 50 years ago.In 1973, the actress and activist made an on-camera protest against Marlon Brando accepting an Oscar for The Godfather.

Because the US film industry misrepresented Native Americans, Brando declined the best actor prize and substituted Littlefeather.

Following her brief statement, Littlefeather allegedly faced “unwarranted and unjustified” abuse, according to the Academy.

She told the Hollywood Reporter, “I never thought I’d live to see the day I would be hearing this.”

Following her statement at the awards, Littlefeather, who was 26 at the time, was jeered at and rejected by the entertainment business.

Organisers claimed that her speech started a trend that has persisted to this day by making the first political comment at the televised ceremony.

She gave a brief introduction and informed the audience that she was speaking on behalf of Brando, who had written “a very long speech,” and “that he very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award.”

She made reference to the recent events at Wounded Knee, a violent stand-off with federal agents at a location of significant significance to the Sioux people. “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.

The audience booed her and also cheered occasionally.

Littlefeather told the BBC in 2020 that she had to leave the podium with two security guards immediately following her remarks. But she went on to say that it “was a very good thing” since actor John Wayne came backstage (and was being guarded by six men). According to her, he was “furious with Marlon and furious with me” and wanted to yank her off stage.

As she was passing, some people made the “Tomahawk chop,” which is considered to be a derogatory gesture to Native Americans.

Littlefeather was given the directive by the production crew of the award event to limit Brando’s remarks, which was much lengthier, to 60 seconds.

It was broadcast to 85 million televisions. Following the occasion, some media sources asserted that Littlefeather was not a true Native American but had instead consented to the speech to advance her acting career. She was rumoured to be Brando’s mistress.

All of those allegations, she told the BBC, were false.

In a letter to Littlefeather that was made public on Monday, former Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president David Rubin stated, “The abuse you endured… was unwarranted and unjustified.”

The 45th Academy Awards speech “continues to remind us of the necessity of respect and the importance of human dignity,” according to Mr. Rubin.

In September, Littlefeather will speak at a gathering held by the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on her attendance at the 1973 Oscars and the future of indigenous representation in cinema.

It’s just been 50 years, she said to the apology, “We Indians are pretty patient people!”

Keeping a sense of humour, she continued, is “our method of survival.”

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