MOVIES

15 times Oscar speeches got really political

USA TODAY
1973: Instead of accepting his Oscar best actor statue for " The Godfather, " Marlon Brando sent Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather to protest the misrepresentation of American Indians in Hollywood.
1973: Instead of accepting his Oscar best actor statue for "The Godfather," Marlon Brando sent Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather to protest the misrepresentation of American Indians in Hollywood.
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1975: Bert Schneider, who co-produced the winning Vietnam War documentary feature " Hearts and Minds, " read a telegram from the head of the North Vietnamese delegation to the Paris peace talks. " Greetings of friendship to all American people, " it read, spawning an Academy disclaimer delivered by Frank Sinatra, who said, " We are not responsible for any political reference made on the program.
1975: Bert Schneider, who co-produced the winning Vietnam War documentary feature "Hearts and Minds," read a telegram from the head of the North Vietnamese delegation to the Paris peace talks. "Greetings of friendship to all American people," it read, spawning an Academy disclaimer delivered by Frank Sinatra, who said, "We are not responsible for any political reference made on the program.
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1978: The year before Vanessa Redgrave won supporting actress for " Julia, " in which she plays a woman murdered by the Nazis, the British actress narrated and funded a documentary called " The Palestinian. " As a result, Jewish protesters burned effigies of Redgrave, which she called out in her speech by deeming them " Zionist hoodlums.
1978:The year before Vanessa Redgrave won supporting actress for "Julia," in which she plays a woman murdered by the Nazis, the British actress narrated and funded a documentary called "The Palestinian." As a result, Jewish protesters burned effigies of Redgrave, which she called out in her speech by deeming them "Zionist hoodlums.
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1993: Then-couple Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon used their presenting stint to criticize the U.S. government for the internment of HIV-positive refugees in Cuba. Fellow presenter Richard Gere also made a human-rights plea, asking that the Tibetan people be freed of Chinese occupation.
1993: Then-couple Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon used their presenting stint to criticize the U.S. government for the internment of HIV-positive refugees in Cuba. Fellow presenter Richard Gere also made a human-rights plea, asking that the Tibetan people be freed of Chinese occupation.
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2002: As the first and only black woman to win the best actress Oscar, Halle Berry emphasized the award ' s significance, proclaiming, " This moment is so much bigger than me. " The " Monster ' s Ball " star dedicated the honor to " every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.
2002: As the first and only black woman to win the best actress Oscar, Halle Berry emphasized the award's significance, proclaiming, "This moment is so much bigger than me." The "Monster's Ball" star dedicated the honor to "every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.
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2003: Picking up documentary feature for " Bowling for Columbine, " outspoken filmmaker Michael Moore was booed when he railed against the Iraq War and President George W. Bush. “ Any time you ’ ve got the pope and the Dixie Chicks against you, your time is up, ” he said.
2003:Picking up documentary feature for "Bowling for Columbine," outspoken filmmaker Michael Moore was booed when he railed against the Iraq War and President George W. Bush. “Any time you’ve got the pope and the Dixie Chicks against you, your time is up,” he said.
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2009: " You commie, homo-loving sons-of-guns, " Sean Penn said to laughter when he accepted best actor for playing gay rights activist Harvey Milk in " Milk. " He also addressed those who voted for Proposition 8. " It is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren ' s eyes if they continue that way of support.
2009: "You commie, homo-loving sons-of-guns," Sean Penn said to laughter when he accepted best actor for playing gay rights activist Harvey Milk in "Milk." He also addressed those who voted for Proposition 8. "It is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support.
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2014: Taking home supporting actor for playing a transgender woman in " Dallas Buyers Club, " Jared Leto dedicated his award to AIDS victims and the " dreamers " watching in the Ukraine and Venezuela, both countries of political unrest. " As you struggle to make your dreams happen, to live the impossible, we ' re thinking of you tonight.
2014: Taking home supporting actor for playing a transgender woman in "Dallas Buyers Club," Jared Leto dedicated his award to AIDS victims and the "dreamers" watching in the Ukraine and Venezuela, both countries of political unrest. "As you struggle to make your dreams happen, to live the impossible, we're thinking of you tonight.
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2015: Supporting actress winner Patricia Arquette went viral with her passionate acceptance speech, which singled out the wage gap between men and women. “ It ’ s our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America, " the " Boyhood " star said, earning huge cheers from Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez.
2015: Supporting actress winner Patricia Arquette went viral with her passionate acceptance speech, which singled out the wage gap between men and women. “It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America," the "Boyhood" star said, earning huge cheers from Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez.
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2015: Winning original song for " Glory " from Martin Luther King Jr. drama " Selma, " Common compared the spirit of the civil rights movement to " those in France standing up for freedom of expression, to those in Hong Kong protesting for democracy. " John Legend pleaded for justice. " There are more black men under correctional control today than there were in slavery in 1850, " he said. " We are with you, we see you, we love you and march on.
2015:Winning original song for "Glory" from Martin Luther King Jr. drama "Selma," Common compared the spirit of the civil rights movement to "those in France standing up for freedom of expression, to those in Hong Kong protesting for democracy." John Legend pleaded for justice. "There are more black men under correctional control today than there were in slavery in 1850," he said. "We are with you, we see you, we love you and march on.
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2016: Accepting best original song with co-writer Jimmy Napes, left, for " Spectre " theme " Writing ' s on the Wall, " British singer Sam Smith dedicated the award to the LGBT community, incorrectly saying that no openly gay man had won an Oscar before. Smith later publicly apologized to openly gay winner Dustin Lance Black, who wrote 2008 biopic " Milk.
2016: Accepting best original song with co-writer Jimmy Napes, left, for "Spectre" theme "Writing's on the Wall," British singer Sam Smith dedicated the award to the LGBT community, incorrectly saying that no openly gay man had won an Oscar before. Smith later publicly apologized to openly gay winner Dustin Lance Black, who wrote 2008 biopic "Milk.
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2016: As Leonardo DiCaprio clinched best actor for his taxing performance in wilderness survival drama " The Revenant, " the longtime environmental activist used the podium to rally for global warming efforts. " Climate change is real, it is happening now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.
2016: As Leonardo DiCaprio clinched best actor for his taxing performance in wilderness survival drama "The Revenant," the longtime environmental activist used the podium to rally for global warming efforts. "Climate change is real, it is happening now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.
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2017: Accepting the best adapted screenplay Oscar, " Moonlight " co-writers Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney delivered a timely message to LGBT youth, in the wake of Trump ' s reversal of transgender bathroom policies. " For all you people out there who feel there is no mirror for you ... we have your back, " Jenkins said. " For the next four years, we will not leave you alone, we will not forget you.
2017:Accepting the best adapted screenplay Oscar, "Moonlight" co-writers Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney delivered a timely message to LGBT youth, in the wake of Trump's reversal of transgender bathroom policies. "For all you people out there who feel there is no mirror for you ... we have your back," Jenkins said. "For the next four years, we will not leave you alone, we will not forget you.
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2019: In his acceptance speech for best adapted screenplay for " BlacKkKlansman, " Spike Lee spoke about his enslaved ancestors and encouraged people to vote in the election of then-President Donald Trump vs President Joe Biden. " The 2020 presidential election is around the corner, " he said. " Let ' s all mobilize. Let ' s all be in the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let ' s do the right thing. You know I had to get that in there.
2019: In his acceptance speech for best adapted screenplay for "BlacKkKlansman," Spike Lee spoke about his enslaved ancestors and encouraged people to vote in the election of then-President Donald Trump vs President Joe Biden. "The 2020 presidential election is around the corner," he said. "Let's all mobilize. Let's all be in the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let's do the right thing. You know I had to get that in there.
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2020: After winning best actor for his role in " Joker, " Joaquin Phoenix, in between referencing the fight against injustice and his late brother River ' s plea for love, launched into a controversial attack of the dairy industry . " Many of us, what we ' re guilty of, is an egocentric worldview, the belief that we ' re the center of the universe, " the vegan star said. " We go into the natural world and plunder it for its resources. We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow, and, when she gives birth, we steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable.
2020: After winning best actor for his role in "Joker," Joaquin Phoenix, in between referencing the fight against injustice and his late brother River's plea for love, launched into a controversial attack of the dairy industry. "Many of us, what we're guilty of, is an egocentric worldview, the belief that we're the center of the universe," the vegan star said. "We go into the natural world and plunder it for its resources. We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow, and, when she gives birth, we steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable.
Robert Deutsch, Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY