Movie Academy apologises to Sacheen Littlefeather, says response to her Marlon Brando Oscars speech was “unwarranted”

nme.com:

The Godfather. At the time, Brando boycotted the Best Actor win on account of the misrepresentation of Native Americans in the film industry, and sent Littlefeather – herself an activist for Native Americans – in his place.Her appearance during the ceremony marked the first time a Native American woman had taken to the Oscars stage, but the reason for her presence was quickly met with heckling and boos from the audience.“[Brando] very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award,” Littlefeather said during the speech, “the reasons for this being the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry and on television.”Now, nearly five decades since the incident, the Academy has made public a letter sent to Littlefeather apologising for the “abuse [she] endured” in the wake of the speech.Written by Academy president David Rubin in June and published by the Academy Museum yesterday (August 15), the letter says the reception to Littlefeather – both during the ceremony and among Hollywood in the years since – “was unwarranted and unjustified.”“The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable.

For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration,” Rubin wrote.In a statement shared in response to the apology, Littlefeather said: “we Indians are very patient people – it’s only been 50 years!” before referencing the letter’s pledge to ensure Indigenous storytellers are more broadly represented.“This is a dream come true,” Littlefeather said, “It is profoundly heartening to see how much has changed since I did not accept the Academy Award 50 years ago.”In addition to the apology,.