Sacheen Littlefeather: Protest at the Oscars
Marlon Brando asked activist Sacheen Littlefeather to reject his Oscar on his behalf. Fifty years on, the Academy has apologised for the abuse she suffered because of her protest.
In 1973 the Native American activist and actor Sacheen Littlefeather was asked by Marlon Brando to appear on live TV to refuse his Oscar for his role in The Godfather. Brando rejected the award because of misrepresentation of Native Americans by the US film industry. The stunt caused a scandal, and would have a profound effect on Sacheen’s life. Now, nearly 50 years later, the Academy has apologised for the abuse she suffered.
Uma Devi Badi was born into the low-status Badi caste in Nepal, and faced discrimination throughout her life. She eventually decided to start a protest movement to demand greater rights for her caste, climbing the gates of a government building semi-naked to get attention for her cause.
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Presenter: Andrea Kennedy
(Photo: Sacheen Littlefeather refuses Marlon Brando's Academy award. Credit: Getty Images)
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