Actor Casey Affleck will not be presenting the best actress award, breaking from Oscar tradition. Following accusations of sexual misconduct, his presence would have been controversial in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
Casey Affleck's publicist has confirmed the actor will not be attending the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles on March 4, where he was expected to present the award for best actress.
According to Oscar tradition, the previous year's best actor winner is to present the Academy Award to the following year's best actress recipient, and vice versa. Affleck won best actor in 2017 for his role in "Manchester by the Sea."
Although his publicist did not give a reason for his withdrawal on Thursday, the story was initially reported on the Deadline Hollywood website, which quoted the actor as saying he "did not want to become a distraction from the focus that should be on the performances of the actresses in the category."
Lawsuits concerning the actor's inappropriate behavior on the set of "I'm Still Here" in 2010 have resurfaced in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement.
At the time, Amanda White and Magdalena Gorka, the film's producer and cinematographer, sued Affleck for what they described as repeated sexual harassment. The actor has denied any wrongdoing, and the cases were settled for undisclosed sums.
@dwnews - 100 days after its launch, the #MeToo movement continues
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#MeToo effect
Affleck's planned role on Oscar night was already identified as problematic months ago, when the #MeToo movement first made news in October with accusations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Talk show host John Oliver pointed out the problem: "Yes, finally — the group that counts among its current members Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby and Mel Gibson has found the one guy who treated women badly and kicked him out," he said in reference to Weinstein on his HBO show last October. "So congratulations, Hollywood. See you at the next Oscars where — and this is true — Casey Affleck will be presenting Best Actress."
Affleck's decision to step down has come as a relief for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "We appreciate the decision to keep the focus on the show and on the great work of this year," an academy spokesperson said in a statement.
Golden Globes 2018: And the award goes to...
An American drama on rape and murder, a story about a woman and a mysterious creature, but also a German crime film dealing with revenge were honored at the 75th Golden Globe Awards ceremony.
Image: Reuters/L. Nicholson
A German success: Fatih Akin's 'In the Fade'
When Katja's husband and six-year-old son are killed in a bomb attack by two neo-Nazis, her life collapses. But the woman, portrayed by the German actress Diane Kruger, seeks revenge in Fatih Akin's "In the Fade." The German director received the prize for best motion picture in a foreign language. "This is yours, this is ours," said Akin when he received the award from Kruger.
Image: Reuters/NBC/P. Drinkwater
The winner of the evening: Martin McDonagh
The Irish playwright, screenwriter and filmmaker Martin McDonagh was undoubtedly the winner of the evening, as his film "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" picked up four awards. He wrote, produced and directed the drama and received the awards for best screenplay and best motion picture.
Image: picture-alliance/AP/NBC/P. Drinkwater
Best actress in a drama: Frances McDormand
In "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," Frances McDormand plays Mildred Hayes, a mother whose daughter was raped and murdered. When the police fail to find a suspect, Hayes calls the public's attention to the unsolved crime with billboards. McDormand received the award for best actress and Sam Rockwell (both pictured above) won in the category of best supporting actor.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Morton
Best comedy: 'Lady Bird' by Greta Gerwig
Unlike the Oscars, the Golden Globes grant two prizes in the best film category: one for best drama and another for best comedy or musical. While "Billboards" dominated the drama category, filmmaker and actress Greta Gerwig (third from left) clenched the best musical or comedy award for "Lady Bird," along with main actress Saoirse Ronan (right).
Image: Getty Images/AFP/F. J. Brown
Saoirse Ronan's first Golden Globe
Gerwig's film is a coming-of-age tragicomedy in which a young, unconventional woman, portrayed by Saoirse Ronan (above), seeks her way into life. She can't cope with her mother's expectations and learns that her father has recently lost his job and battles depression. Ronan won her first Golden Globe ever for her performance in the movie.
The front-runner of the evening: Guillermo del Toro
Was the Mexican film director really as enthusiastic after the Globes as seen in this picture? With seven nominations, his film "The Shape of Water" was the front-runner of this year's ceremony, but the story of the relationship between Elisa, a mute woman, and a mysterious creature in a classified lab received "only" two awards: for best direction and best original score.
Image: Reuters/L. Nicholson
Best actor in a drama: Gary Oldman
British actor Gary Oldman won the Golden Globe in the category best actor in a drama, for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in "Darkest Hour." The war film follows the early days of the Prime Minister, as Hitler closes in on Britain during World War II.
Image: Reuters/L. Nicholson
Best actor in a comedy: James Franco
James Franco won the Golden Globe for best actor in a musical or comedy for his role of the infamous Hollywood outsider Tommy Wiseau in "The Disaster Artist." Wiseau's film "The Room" (2003) was called "the worst movie ever," but has gained cult following since then.
Image: picture-alliance/ZUMAPRESS.com/New Line Cinema
The Harvey Weinstein effect continues
Beyond the awards, the campaigns triggered by the Harvey Weinstein case were on everybody's lips during the evening: the #metoo and "Time's Up" movements inspired many speeches during the ceremony and were a ubiquitous element of the gala.
Image: Reuters/L. Nicholson
...and the stars wore black
The many sexual scandals of the last few months had an impact on the red carpet, too, which turned black this year, as many guests of the ceremony chose to wear all-black attires. Their aim was to show solidarity with all victims of sexual harassment.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/F. J. Brown
Honorary prize for Oprah Winfrey
The famous American entertainer also appeared in black at this year's Golden Globes as she went to accept the Cecil B DeMille Award for lifetime achievement. Winfrey said in her speech, "For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up!"
Image: Reuters/L. Nicholson
TV gets Golden Globes too
The Golden Globes do not focus exclusively on the silver screen, but acknowledge great achievements on TV as well, which is another difference between the Globes and the Oscars. This year, the US series "The Handmaid's Tale" was honored with the award for best drama series, and its lead actress Elisabeth Moss also received the award for best actress.
Image: Reuters/L. Nicholson
Kirk Douglas receives a standing ovation
When the now 101-year-old Kirk Douglas turned up on stage, it was one of the highlights of the gala. The film veteran took to the stage accompanied by his daughter-in-law, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, to present an award. The audience rose to a standing ovation and celebrated the career of the Hollywood maestro for several minutes.
