10 Most Cringe-Worthy Oscar Moments

5. Marlon Brando Refuses His Oscar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QUacU0I4yU And it's about time we get to the cringe-inducing political speeches, the first of which sees a misguided Marlon Brando refuse to turn up to the 1973 Oscars altogether (where he was nominated for his work on The Godfather), instead sending a Native American actress referring to herself as Sacheen Littlefeather in his place not to accept the award, but to refuse it. Brando staged this as a protest against Hollywood's apparently foul treatment of Native Americans, much to the confusion of just about everyone watching. The acclaimed actor had by this stage in his career earned a reputation for being eccentric and difficult, an image he had just begun to shed with his brilliant turn in Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece, but true to form, he came surging back with another bizarre stunt right on cue. After the ceremony, Littlefeather read a 15-page speech to the press about Native American cruelty, and following this incident the Academy refused to allow anyone to accept an Oscar on anyone's behalf for a long, long time.