An enormous a part of awards season revolves round which actors and actresses are snubbed by the Oscars – however rejection can reduce each methods.
Many notable Hollywood legends have declined to attend the Academy Awards all through the gala’s 97-year historical past. A few of these objectors – notably Will and Jada Pinkett Smith – no-showed resulting from an absence of range amongst nominees, whereas others – like Katharine Hepburn – outright rejected the thought of turning performing into a contest. These conflicts can result in dramatic on-air moments on the Oscars, like when Marlon Brando despatched Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather to ship a press release of protest on his behalf.
Maintain scrolling to seek out out why a few of the most well-known Hollywood stars have beefed with the Academy Awards over the previous century:
Kendrick Lamar
One of the vital anticipated moments forward of the 91st Academy Awards in 2019 was anticipated to be Lamar performing his observe “All of the Stars” from Black Panther, which was nominated within the Finest Unique Music class. Nevertheless, Oscar viewers have been denied any efficiency of the observe in any respect since Lamar declined to attend the ceremony.
When Oscars season rolls round, many stars are wishing to see their identify on the nominations listing — however it at all times doesn’t pan out. Even earlier than her Barbie snub, Margot Robbie was ignored for her earlier tasks. Robbie had her breakout function in Martin Scorsese‘s The Wolf of Wall Avenue in 2013, which she starred […]
A supply near Lamar informed Selection on the time that the hip-hop icon’s absence was due to “logistics and timing.” Because of this, “All of the Stars” was not carried out alongside the opposite Finest Unique Music nominees – and the observe additionally misplaced its Oscar class to Woman Gaga’s “Shallow” from A Star is Born.
Fortunately, Lamar’s followers weren’t robbed of a blockbuster “All of the Stars” efficiency a second time throughout his Tremendous Bowl LIX halftime present in 2025, as he was joined by SZA to carry out the empowering observe.
Will and Jada Pinkett Smith
Controversy swelled across the 88th Academy Awards as a result of all 20 performing nominees and 4 out of the 5 nominated administrators have been white. Will’s awards season contender Concussion was among the many performances snubbed. After activist April Reign began the #OscarsSoWhite social media motion as a protest, Jada partnered with director Spike Lee to boycott the 2016 Oscars in hopes of pressuring The Academy to diversify its ranks.
Jada’s husband, Will, quickly confirmed to Good Morning America that he would skip the 2016 Oscars in solidarity along with his spouse: “So many alternative individuals from so many alternative locations including their concepts to this lovely American gumbo.
“At its finest, Hollywood represents and creates the imagery for that magnificence. However individually, I feel I’ve to guard and struggle for the beliefs that make our nation – and make our Hollywood neighborhood – nice.”
Activists and celebrities reminiscent of Tyrese Gibson and 50 Cent known as on Oscars host Chris Rock to drop out too, however the comic determined to remain on and made headlines throughout the ceremony for harshly mocking Jada’s absence.
“Jada stated she’s not coming, protest. I used to be like, ‘Isn’t she on a TV present?’ Jada’s going to boycott the Oscars? Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties. I wasn’t invited,” Rock quipped.
The joke reportedly contributed to the dangerous blood between Rock and the Smiths main as much as the 2022 Oscars, the place Will infamously slapped the comedian on stage for joking about Jada once more. Will was subsequently banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years as punishment.
Spike Lee
Lee had a profession breakthrough when his 1983 pupil movie Joe’s Mattress-Stuy Barbershop: We Lower Heads gained a Scholar Academy Award. Thirty-two years later, Lee was anticipated to attend the Oscars in an honorary capability after receiving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award months earlier.
Regardless, the filmmaker joined with the Smiths in boycotting the 88th Academy Awards, writing by way of Instagram on the time: “I want to thank president Cheryl Boone Isaacs and the board of governors of the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences for awarding me an honorary Oscar this previous November. I’m most appreciative.”
Lee continued: “Nevertheless my spouse, Mrs Tonya Lewis Lee and I can’t be attending the Oscar ceremony this coming February. We can not assist it and imply no disrespect to my pals, host Chris Rock and producer Reggie Hudlin, president Isaacs and the Academy. However, how is it doable for the 2nd consecutive yr all 20 contenders beneath the actor class are white? And let’s not even get into the opposite branches. 40 white actors in 2 years and no flava in any respect. We will’t act?! WTF!!”
As a response to the #OscarsSoWhite motion, the Academy introduced sweeping modifications to its membership protocols in hopes of diversifying its ranks by 2020. The system put restrictions on voting privileges, in order that new members could be given ten-year phrases to vote on annual nominees. For so long as they remained energetic within the movie trade, their phrases might be prolonged a further ten years.
Lee went on to win a Finest Tailored Screenplay Oscar for 2019’s BlacKkKlansman, along with receiving Finest Image and Finest Director nominations that yr.
Banksy
A comedy of errors ensued when elusive artist Banksy’s 2010 film Exit By means of the Present Store obtained a Finest Documentary (Characteristic) nomination on the 83rd Academy Awards in 2011.
Since Banksy has at all times refused to ever present their precise face in public, Academy officers needed to resolve whether or not to allow them to put on a masks to the ceremony.
“The enjoyable however disquieting state of affairs is that if that movie wins and 5 guys in monkey masks come to the stage all saying, ‘I’m Banksy!’ Who the hell will we give it to?” the Academy’s government director, Bruce Davis, informed TheWrap.
Banksy was a no-show on the annual Academy nominees luncheon in addition to the ceremony itself, which was simply as effectively since Exit By means of the Present Store misplaced its class to Inside Job.
Marlon Brando
Maybe probably the most infamous snub of all-time befell when Brando declined to just accept his Finest Actor Oscar for enjoying Don Corleone in The Godfather on the forty fifth Academy Awards in 1973.
Brando despatched Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather on his behalf to make use of the time allotted for his acceptance speech to handle the plight of her neighborhood.
“[Brando] very regretfully can not settle for this very beneficiant award,” Littlefeather informed the stressed crowd. “And the explanations for this being are the therapy of American Indians at present by the movie trade – excuse me – and on tv in film reruns, and likewise with latest happenings at Wounded Knee.”
The reside viewers on the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion booed and hissed all through Littlefeather’s speech, whereas she later reported that John Wayne needed to be held again from confronting her.
Model later informed discuss present host Dick Cavett that he was horrified by the abuse that Littlefeather endured from the hostile Oscar crowd.
“I used to be distressed that folks ought to have booed and whistled and stomped, although maybe it was directed at myself,” Brando stated in 1973. “They need to have not less than had the courtesy to take heed to her.”
Practically 50 years later, the Academy publicly apologized to Littlefeather and invited her to talk about her expertise on the Academy Museum in 2022.
Woody Allen
The filmmaker no-showed the Oscars every of the 4 instances he gained all through his profession as a result of he had “no regard for that sort of ceremony.”
“I simply don’t assume they know what they’re doing,” he stated. “If you see who wins these issues — or who doesn’t win them — you’ll be able to see how meaningless this Oscar factor is. … I do know it sounds horrible, however successful that Oscar for Annie Corridor didn’t imply something to me.”
Allen gained each Finest Director and Finest Unique Screenplay for 1977’s Annie Corridor, in addition to Finest Unique Screenplay as soon as once more for 1986’s Hannah and Her Sisters and had a second directing win for 2011’s Midnight in Paris. He has obtained 24 whole nominations.
Given his standing in Hollywood lately, it appears unlikely Allen may have the prospect to snub the Academy Awards once more.
Katharine Hepburn
The four-time Oscar winner’s solely look on the Academy Awards got here in 1974 to current the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award to her longtime buddy and producer Lawrence Weingarten.
“I’m dwelling proof that an individual can wait 41 years to be unselfish,” she joked on the Oscars stage.
Hepburn had beforehand declined to attend any of the Oscars ceremonies when she was nominated, explaining as soon as that “prizes [meant] nothing” to her.
“My prize is my work,” she was famously quoted as saying.
Hepburn nonetheless holds the document for many Oscar wins for a performer, having obtained the Finest Actress Award 4 instances for Morning Glory (1933), Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967), The Lion in Winter (1968) and On Golden Pond (1981).
George C. Scott
Scott grew to become the first-ever Hollywood star to say no the Finest Actor Award for Patton on the forty third annual Oscars in 1971. He communicated with the Academy earlier than the present to substantiate he wouldn’t attend or settle for any commendation.
His absence made for a tense on-air second when Finest Actor presenter Goldie Hawn excitedly introduced Scott because the winner of the class, however there was nobody current to just accept.
Later, Scott likened the Oscars to a “a two-hour meat parade” and accused the Academy itself of being “offensive, barbarous and innately corrupt.”
“[It’s a] public show with contrived suspense for financial causes,” he complained.
Academy voters didn’t maintain Scott’s tongue-lashing in opposition to him, as he was nominated for Finest Actor for his efficiency in The Hospital the very subsequent yr (although this time Gene Hackman gained for The French Connection).
Paul Newman
Newman was understandably gun-shy concerning the Oscars since he misplaced seven instances all through his profession. Whereas it regarded like Newman would lastly win Finest Actor for 1986’s The Coloration of Cash, he wasn’t taking any probabilities and declined to attend.
One other unusual on-air second ensued when Bette Davis was pressured to current the Finest Actor Oscar to then-Academy president Robert Smart.
Newman defined that he was skipping the fateful night time as a result of he wasn’t keen to undergo the frustration of probably dropping as soon as once more.
“It’s been a very long time. It’s like chasing a wonderful girl for 80 years. Lastly, she relents and also you say, ‘I’m terribly sorry. I’m drained,’” he joked to Movie 87 host Russell Harty weeks earlier than the 1987 Oscars.
Michael Caine
Caine was a uncommon case the place the chance to attend the 59th Academy Awards in 1987 was taken fully out of his palms. Though he was the favourite to win Finest Supporting Actor for his work in Hannah and Her Sisters, Caine was contractually obligated to movie Jaws: The Revenge and producers wouldn’t launch him to attend the ceremony.
The legendary actor seemingly had no regrets about lacking his huge night time, as he remembered that interval in his life as “the time once I gained an Oscar, paid for a home and had an amazing vacation” in his 1992 autobiography What’s It All About?.
Jaws: The Revenge grew to become one of many greatest Hollywood bombs of the ’80s when it was launched in July 1987, although Caine as soon as once more took the profession setback in stride.
“Any person stated to me, ‘I noticed that Jaws 4. It stinks,’” he informed Australian TV host Andrew Denton. “I haven’t seen it, however I’ve seen the home it purchased my mom, and it’s marvelous!”
Conan O’Brien hosts the 97th Academy Awards, airing reside on ABC Sunday, March 2, from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
