Nearly five decades after her hostile speech at an Oscars, the Academy Awards have paid tribute to Native American Sacheen Littlefeather. “We sincerely apologize and express our sincere admiration,” former Academy Director David Rubin said at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday (local time).
In 1973, Littlefeather rejected the Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando, which the star actor won for his role in the mafia epic “The Godfather” – citing Hollywood’s treatment of Native Americans as the reason. The actress and member of the Apache tribe said on stage at the time that Brando “unfortunately could not accept this very generous award”. The audience reacted partly with applause, but partly with boos.
Littlefeather later said Western star John Wayne wanted to physically attack her and six security guards had to hold him back. Memories of the incident were last revived in March, when actor Will Smith punched comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars after he made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
At her ceremony on Saturday, Littlefeather said in a packed room at the Academy’s newly opened museum that she only arrived in the room shortly before the ceremony in 1973 because Brando had just written his speech rejecting the award .
She then went on stage “like a proud Indian” with “dignity, courage, grace and humility,” she said in her speech. “I knew I had to tell the truth, some people may accept it, some may not.” Littlefeather, who worked as an actress herself, had considerable difficulties gaining a foothold in Hollywood after her speech. Casting directors warned directors against hiring her. The Oscar Academy apologized to Littlefeather for the first time in a letter accompanying the invitation to the speech held in June. The 75-year-old made the letter public in August.