The Oscars are so much more than just the prestige of winning a piece of gold on the night of nights. It comes to represent how the Hollywood elite view the work of studios and the people who make the motion pictures possible. Bringing so much added subtext and meaning to the event itself, some are voicing their concerns over two individuals who have a shady past.
Casey Affleck is up for his first ever nomination in the Best Actor category, winning wide acclaim for his work on the 2016 drama Manchester by the Sea.
Now actress Constance Wu has come out to slam this move by the Academy, drawing attention to sexual misconduct claims that have been settled out of court.
Boys Club Buying Their Way Out Of Trouble: Wu
34-year old Wu might not be a household name, but her stance has not fallen on deaf ears as critics jump on the Affleck nomination. The Low Budget Ethnic Movie star took to her social media account to lambast the Academy for the move. Outlining that a simple settlement does not override the events that saw the actor attract the controversy, only for Hollywood to forget the scandal entirely.
"Men who sexually harass women 4 Oscar! Bc good acting performance matters more than humanity, human integrity!" tweeted Wu. "Boys! Buy ur way out of trouble by settling out of court! Just do a good acting job, that's all that matters!"
casey affleck has sexually harassed multiple people. he doesnt deserve any praise or award, yet alone an oscar nomination, he's disgusting.
— alina (@glossyfilm) January 24, 2017
tell me again how being accused of sexual assault can ruin a man's career #CaseyAffleck
— Bad Sea (@badseaband) January 24, 2017
An admitted sexual abuser is our president and Casey Affleck and Mel Gibson just got nominated for Oscars. Happy Tuesday, everyone!
— AKA Kalinda Sharma (@Nico_Lang) January 24, 2017
Gibson's Timing of Return Leaves Some Uncomfortable
Since that infamous antisemitic tirade that saw him blacklisted from any mainstream ceremonies or productions, Mel Gibson is back with a nomination for his war drama Hacksaw Ridge. Although some see this as an indication of rehabilitation and time served away from the spotlight warranted, others like Britt Hayes of Screen Crush argue that Gibson should not be embraced for the first time since winning Best Director for Braveheart.
"That Gibson secured six Oscar nominations for his egregiously ham-fisted war drama is not entirely surprising; that he did so just four days after Donald Trump’s inauguration is somewhat...disconcerting," wrote Hayes.
Illustrating a shift to progressive nominations that fly in the face of the #OscarsSoWhite phenomenon, the critic believes this nod to Gibson is a step in the wrong direction.
"The debate over separating the art from the artist remains pertinent, but it’s undeniably more difficult to ignore Gibson’s racist, sexist, violent past in our current political predicament. Not even a week ago, our country witnessed the inauguration of a man who, like Gibson, continues to prosper despite racist and sexist comments and allegations of sexual assault and harassment; a man whose impetuous actions and rash words give every indication that he is violently inclined and may very well incite an actual war (which could serve as the basis for Gibson’s next Oscar-nominated film)."
Source: SMH, Screen Crush
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