20 Devastating Oscars Moments Hidden In Plain Sight
3. Sacheen Littlefeather Gets Jeered For Highlighting Hollywood's Shortcomings
Marlon Brando won a well-earned Best Actor Oscar for his incredible performance in The Godfather, though Brando wasn't present at the ceremony, instead sending a Native American civil rights activist, Sacheen Littlefeather, in his place.
Littlefeather told the audience that Brando had decided to decline the award due to Hollywood's treatment of American Indians, instead giving her the moment to draw attention to this fact, which drew a mixed reception of cheers and boos in the audience.
Littlefeather's appearance remains a highly memorable Oscar moment no question, though less-known are the unfortunate off-screen details of Littlefeather's treatment.
According to Littlefeather, producer Howard W. Koch threatened to have her arrested if her speech ran over 60 seconds, and when she was escorted backstage people mockingly did the tomahawk chop gesture towards her.
Later she claims to have been shot at while visiting Brando, received repeated threats on her life, was blacklisted from Hollywood, and subjected to a smear campaign in the press.
Though Littlefeather's appearance caused the Academy to ban proxy acceptances - with presenters instead accepting for non-attendees - in 2022 the Academy sent Littlefeather a letter apologising for her treatment, just a few short months before she passed away.