It Took Oscars 50 Years To Apologize to Native American Actress Sacheen Littlefeather!

Updated On March 18, 2024 | Published By: Natalie | In controversy , History

Sachin Littlefeather gave a speech on behalf of Marlon Brando. source: The Guardian

Actress Sacheen Littlefeather is finally getting the apology she deserves.
The audience booed her off stage at the Oscars nearly 50 years ago for her speech.
She refused to touch the Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando for The Godfather.

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Oscars Apologizes to Sacheen Littlefeather 50 years after mistreating her on live television

Sacheen Littlefeather refused to receive an Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando who won the best actor for The Godfather on live TV in 1973.

Littleman, a native American simply rejected the award because of how the US film industry treated Native Americans.

The Academy finally acknowledged the fact that the actress endured unwarranted and unjustified abuse at the show.

Sacheen Littlefeather — The apology comes nearly after 50 years. source: BBC

After the Oscars issued its apology, Littleman said:

“I never thought I’d live to see the day I would be hearing this,”

The audience shunned Sacheen who was only 26 at the time. They made fun of her after her short speech at the Oscars.

Her speech was the start of the political statement at the televised event that continues to this day.

After Brando won, she took to the stage and introduced herself. She spoke on the behalf of the actor who prepared a very long speech. She said:

“that he very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award”.

Referring to a violent stand-off with federal agents at a site of significant importance to the Sioux people, the actress added:

‘‘And the reasons for this being the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry and on television in movie re-runs, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee,”

Her speech received boos and some cheers from the audience.

Also, Read Will Smith Finally Apologizes To Chris Rock For The Infamous Oscars Slap!

The Oscars apology letter surprised Littlefeather

Decades later, Sacheen confessed that she had to leave the stage immediately with two bodyguards after her speech was over.

The actress also revealed that actor John Wayne who was backstage with his six bodyguards was so furious that he wanted to pull her off stage himself.

Brando, who was absent from the controversial night wrote a much longer speech. However, Littlefeather was only given 60 seconds to keep the rejection.

The show was televised to 85 million people. While many thought Littefeather was brave enough to make a valid yet controversial statement on the cinema’s biggest night, some claimed she was not a native American herself and that she was just promoting her acting career. People even called her Brando’s mistress.

She told the BBC that all the claims against her were false.

On Monday, David Rubin, former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, wrote her a letter that read:

“The abuse you endured… was unwarranted and unjustified,”
‘the speech at the 45th Academy Awards continues to remind us of the necessity of respect and the importance of human dignity”.

In September, the Oscars will host an event where Sacheen will talk about her appearance at the 1973 Oscars and the future of native Americans in films.

Replying to the apology, she said:

‘”We Indians are very patient people – it’s only been 50 years!”

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