Award Show Scandals Throughout the Years That Shook the Industry

At the 1973 Oscars, Marlon Brando’s Best Actor win for The Godfather took a surprising turn. Instead of the legendary actor stepping onto the stage to claim his award, actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather took the spotlight. Littlefeather spoke out against Hollywood’s portrayal of Native Americans, citing the ongoing protests at Wounded Knee in South Dakota.

Her impassioned plea was met with a mixed reception; boos and ridicule filled the air as she stood her ground. It was even rumored that even Hollywood icon John Wayne attempted to intervene… Decades later, in 2022, the Academy finally issued an apology to Littlefeather for the mistreatment she had endured on that fateful night. But in the wake of Littlefeather’s passing, revelations about her true heritage emerged, adding complexity to this very incident all those years ago.