Casey Affleck responds to backlash over Oscar win
By Tribute on March 2, 2017 | 12 Comments
Casey Affleck
is responding to backlash he has received following his Oscar win, concerning the sexual harassment allegations made against him in the past.
According to Mark Shanahan, a reporter for the Boston Globe, Casey “paused and sighed heavily” when he was asked about the accusations, in his first interview since being awarded Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea.
Casey revealed that he would not be commenting further on the subject, as both parties are prohibited to speak on the matter. However, he did later add to his statement, saying, “I believe that any kind of mistreatment of anyone for any reason is unacceptable and abhorrent, and everyone deserves to be treated with respect in the workplace and anywhere else. There’s really nothing I can do about it. Other than live my life the way I know I live it and to speak to what my own values are and how I try to live by them all the time.”
The actor was met widespread criticism throughout awards season, stemming from his involvement in a 2010 lawsuit filed by two women who worked with him on the set of the faux-documentary I’m Still Here.
Producer Amanda White and cinematographer Magdalena Gorka sued Casey for $2 million and $2.25 million dollars, respectively. Amanda claimed that Affleck referred to women as “cows,” and groped her when she rejected his advances. Magdalena said she was confronted with a “near daily barrage of sexual comments, innuendo and unwelcome advances” from other crew members, who were allegedly encouraged by Affleck.
Casey denied the allegations, and both cases were settled out of court in 2010. Uproar surrounding the lawsuits has recently resurfaced, as the buzz around Casey’s performance as a grief-stricken man in the 2016 film made him a top contender throughout the awards season.
Leading up to Sunday’s ceremony, many were calling out the apparent disregard of Casey’s past by award show executives, and the lack of respect to victims of sexual abuse.
Some observers argued that because Casey is a straight, white man, he is still able to thrive in the industry, despite the allegations against him. Commenters noted the stark difference in treatment between Casey and The Birth of a Nation director and star, Nate Parker, who was also once accused of sexual assault. Although he was acquitted of all charges made against him in 2001, Parker was faced with heavy scrutinization over the allegations right before the release of The Birth of a Nation, which likely played a part in the film’s poor box office debut. ~Ashleen Grange
Comments & Discussion
Similar Articles
Congratulations to our Oscar 55″ Smart 4K TV contest winner!
March 12, 2024 | 3 Comments
Congratulations to the winner of our Oscar 55″ Smart 4K TV contest! Did you watch this year’s Academy Awards? What was your favorite part of the show?
Academy Awards 2024 live updates and winners list!
March 10, 2024 | 1 Comment
We updated the Oscars live as each winner was announced, right through to the Best Picture winner – Oppenheimer, which won seven Academy Awards in total.
2024 Oscar predictions: Who will win in the top categories
March 7, 2024 | 5 Comments
Although this year’s Academy Awards may seem pretty predictable, you can never count out surprises. We’ve compiled a list of who will win and who should win.
gotta say as a woman and a feminist, my feminism is not dependent on villifying men. in the case of alleged sexual harassment of both Nate Parker who was cleared of all charges, and Casey Affleck who has probably settled the lawsuit from 7 years ago…lets not always assume the cases are black and white.
Im willing to give the benefit of the doubt. I also spent many years in the entertainment industry, where this kind of harassment is rampant. Its hard to get away from it for both men and women. Certainly if there are any more incidents involving either one of these guys, it will surely come to light.
I prefer to judge art on its performance or my enjoyment of it. Otherwise it gets into moral judgments and most people cant stand up to that kind of scrutiny if we even knew half of the truth behind the scenes.
Thats it for me! SKy…
It’s really tough: on the one hand, you shouldn’t doubt victims; on the other, you’re innocent until proven guilty. I think in the absence of a trial, you have to try to do both. Acknowledge that the victims might be telling the truth, while also not punishing the accused. Basically it’s up to you if you want to consider Casey a bad person, but you certainly can’t penalize him in any kind of official way just because he was accused of doing something.
Controversy aside, I thought his performance was amazing and for that reason alone he deserved to win.
Like Woody Allen and Roman Polanski before him, Casey Affleck’s career and reputation will be forever punctuated by his lack of respect and boundaries with women. He is no different. And Hollywood has not treated him any differently by celebrating and awarding his talent. But now we know, and he will be explaining himself over and over and over.
Of course he’s going to deny the allegations.
And of course the allegations were not made up when they came from numerous victims. And people wonder why women are scared to come forward and then shame them for not coming forward sooner. Like there’s a victim code that must be followed. Or you must be lying for attention or whatever other load of misguided BS ignorant people spout.
Casey Affleck is your typical narcissistic, entitled, dishonest, misogynist who of course is not going to take responsibility and admit to the allegations. Why should he when his bad behaviour is overlooked. Although someday his downfall with come, I hope.
I agree with you, Gia, and you said pretty much what I was going to say. I wasn’t planning on seeing his unrelentingly depressing movie regardless of the accusations made against him, but I won’t be seeing any of his work in the future, either. I don’t support those who don’t fully respect others.
Brie Larson’s response to him winning the Oscar was perfect.
I don’t know why this doesn’t affect his career, yet Nate Parker’s career and movie have taken a huge hit. Doesn’t seem fair.
A producer and a cinematographer want to be known for that, not for being victims of sexual assault. If you think they made up to make a name for themselves, you’re stupid and ignorant.
People can comment and reflect on this ’til the cows come home, and guess what?
That Oscar will remain Casey Affleck’s, because he earned it. We’ve grown so accustomed to publicly shaming people through social media; it’s almost as appalling as some of the things people are being shamed for. There is now an army of entitled, narcissistic soapboxers who think they’re meting out justice, when all they’re doing is jumping on a bandwagon that will undoubtedly come to a screeching halt as soon as a wheel buckles from the weight of the bullshit.
Sad where our priorities and interests are focused (I am not immune to this disease, as I myself waste time trying to explain how ridiculous it all is) and it will be such a sad day at the end of our short run – knowing that we thought we could change the world around us by bitching, ranting and protesting (all in the name of creating awareness, right?) instead of walking the line ourselves. Go build something, or learn to play an instrument and gain some experiences in life that aren’t served through a glowing screen. I guarantee that if we ditch Facebook, Twitter and the like as our primary outlets (and INLETS) then we will enjoy our lives SO much more.
So let’s leave Casey alone… let him shine his Oscar while we go make something tangible and perhaps bring ourselves one step closer to earning the stripes that we so often try to strip people of by lambasting them on social media.
Sincerely,
Brie
So, in the case of Casey Affeck, the two women sued him and were asking for just over 4 million dollars in compensation. No criminal charges were laid in this case as far as I can tell. So either they never went to the police or it was investigated and found to be lacking sufficient evidence to support their claims to proceed to trial. Even the lawsuit was settled out of court, so there was never an independent assessment of the claims or his defense. Now consider that ANYONE can file a lawsuit against someone, and in many cases it is cheaper, quicker and easier to just reach a settlement. This effectively closes the door on the issue as both parties usually agree to non-disclosure clauses. The presumption of innocent until proven guilty seems to be conveniently forgotten when cases of sexual impropriety come up. I am all for listening with compassion and no bias to reports of such behaviour, but I also support thorough investigation of such matters and reserving judgement until both parties have had the opportunity to put their story forward. And in cases like this one where neither parties’ full story has been told and is now sealed a final judgement is best left unmade.
Sean Mc, you are no longer welcome in the sandbox. Please proceed to the next level. Your brain was properly wired and your upbringing was conducive to the formation of such qualities as empathy, autonomy and of course, my most favourite – rationality!
I hope that everyone in this sorry excuse for a thread (I continue to feel shame for having clicked on it in the first place) took the time to read your post… I knew that mine would likely be glossed over in a matter of seconds; but I have high hopes that the entire article (shittily written as it is) will be updated to convey the more accurate version your words and sentiments have provided.
Enough stop it!Now artists are supposed to be talented and puritans. If all artist are puritans we going to have some pretty shitty art. When actions are criminal or vile OK charge them and expose then but stop the witch hunts! Have a great day. Me Too!