Names and faces
In another apparent consequence of the #MeToo movement, last year’s best actor Oscar winner Casey Affleck will not be presenting at or attending the
90th Academy Awards. Affleck’s publicist said Thursday that the actor would not be at the ceremony on March 4 where, traditionally, he would have been expected to present the award for best actress as the reigning best actor winner.
A spokesman for the film academy said it appreciates “the decision to keep the focus on the show and on the great work of this year.” The Manchester by the Sea actor faced sexual harassment allegations in 2010 in two public civil suits during the production of the mockumentary I’m Still Here. The suits were settled for undisclosed sums, and Affleck has said that the terms of the settlement prevent him from discussing the matter. When the #MeToo movement exploded in October and the film academy revoked Harvey Weinstein’s membership, the spotlight turned back to Affleck and other academy members who have been accused of misconduct.
Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding theater troupe, the nation’s oldest collegiate theatrical organization, has announced it will allow women to join its cast, starting next year. Amira Weeks, the group’s student president, made the announcement at the start of a comedic roast celebrating actor Mila Kunis, who was named the organization’s Woman of the Year. The 223-year-old group is known for comedic revues that feature men in drag playing female characters. “The Hasty Pudding welcomes women to audition and to give equal opportunity to play those roles based on the quality of their individual talents,” Weeks said, reading from a letter issued by the organization’s governing board. “While we have great respect for the art form as it’s been presented by the Pudding for over 170 years, the world is in a very different place. We are very proud to take this organization forward as a leader in women’s rights and gender equality.” Students and alumni have been calling on the troupe to change its casting policy in recent years. Female students even have been auditioning for roles as a protest over the years, but none ever were cast. Some had called on Kunis to reconsider accepting the award over the exclusion. The 34-yearold actress, who has spoken out against sexism in the entertainment industry before, said in brief remarks onstage that she was “honored” to have been part of the program during its “year of change.”