Sacheen Littlefeather, famous for declining Marlon Brando’s Oscar, dies weeks after accepting Academy apology
Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American civil rights activist and actress who famously declined Marlon Brando’s 1973 Oscar, has died at 75, the Academy of Motion Pictures has announced.
She revealed in 2018 that she was suffering from breast cancer.
Littlefeather died at her home in Novato, northern California, surrounded by her loved ones, The Hollywood Reporter said, quoting a statement sent out by her caretaker.
In 1973, she was booed offstage at the Academy Awards after she turned down Marlon Brando’s award for best actor.
She had refused to take the statuette from Roger Moore and begun a speech about the film industry’s mistreatment of Native Americans. She was made to leave the stage after speaking for just a minute.
She said she was subsequently boycotted by the film industry for decades.
Earlier this year, the Academy apologised to her in an open letter, acknowledging that her appearance had indeed led to her being “professionally boycotted, personally attacked and harassed, and discriminated against for the last 50 years”.
David Rubin, its president, offered his “deepest apologies and sincere admiration”.
Littlefeather officially accepted the apology during an Academy event held in her honour held on 17 September in Los Angeles.
Welcomed to the stage to rapturous applause, she said: “I am accepting this apology not only for me alone, but an acknowledgement not only for me, but all of our [Native American] nation. Our nation needs to hear this apology.”
She said some audience members had mocked her with the chopping sound of a tomahawk
Looking back at the 1973 ceremony, to which she had worn a traditional buckskin dress, she said the audience had booed her as she started to speak and some had mocked her with the chopping sound of a tomahawk and the whoops of “Indians”.
The actor John Wayne had been “ready to attack me”, she said, and “held back by six security guards”.
Littlefeather would not take the statuette from Roger Moore. Photo: TS/Keystone USA/Rex/Shutterstock
Brando turned down the Oscar for his iconic role as Vito Corleone in The Godfather.
He later told US television he felt it was a “marvellous opportunity” to speak to tens of millions of people as the “American Indian hasn’t been able to have his voice heard anywhere in the history of the United States”.
In a 2021 interview with The Guardian, Littlefeather, who had suffered from several serious health issues during her life, said she had been receiving chemotherapy for some time. She described cancer as “a full-time job”.
Looking forward to her death, she said: “I’m going to another place. I’m going to the world of my ancestors. I’m saying goodbye to you… I’ve earned the right to be my true self.”
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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