Last night Casey Affleck took home the best actor Oscar for his role in Manchester by the Sea. While many were surprised he beat out Oscar favorites Denzel Washinton and Andrew Garfield, others were not. Many on the internet pointed out that Hollywood, as well as America at large, has a history of rewarding men who’ve faced sexual assault allegations.
https://twitter.com/LauraColleluori/status/818360787848876033
Casey Affleck winning the Oscars and Trump winning the election is a pretty clear statement of what happens to white abusive men 👍
— Larissa Siriani 🧜♀️ (@LarissaSiriani) February 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/_CillaW/status/836080540746833920
In 2010, Affleck settled out of court for sexual assault and harassment allegations brought by two women he worked with—one said he groped her, the other said he intimidated her, sent her abusive texts, and encouraged other men to expose themselves to her at work. In his acceptance speech last night, Affleck took on Trump to much applause, saying, “The policies of this administration are abhorrent and they will not last.” Many found his criticisms of the president hypocritical since they both share an allegedly similar past.
https://twitter.com/snowweisz_/status/836079625105199105
https://twitter.com/moisturizeds/status/836077898238943232
Regardless of what the Academy thinks of Affleck, others in Hollywood perhaps aren’t so cool with his accolades. Actress Constance Wu has been very vocal about what she feels was the Academy’s lack of integrity by nominating Affleck in the first place, and 2016 Oscar winner Brie Larson, who presented him with the award, didn’t bother to clap when he took the stage.
My aesthetic: Brie Larson not clapping for literal trash hole casey affleck pic.twitter.com/Ci5LWXLkCr
— tyler (@tyler_struble) February 27, 2017
This piece of art is called “keep my name out of your mouth, Casey” pic.twitter.com/neVTJLbusl
— David Weigel (@daveweigel) February 27, 2017
The other three stars who took home top acting Oscars maybe wouldn’t mind distancing themselves from Affleck too.
https://twitter.com/ira/status/836099903365365760
