SAG slams academy for Oscar tactics

The Screen Actors Guild on Monday called on the film academy to stop trying to prevent stars from appearing on award shows before the Oscars.

In an unusually critical statement, SAG-AFTRA said it has received multiple reports that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is pressuring certain actors to appear only at next month’s Academy Awards. Several award shows occur before that, including the guild’s own Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 27. “This self-serving intimidation of SAG-AFTRA members is meant to limit their opportunities to be seen and honour the work of their fellow artists throughout the season. Actors should be free to accept any offer to participate in industry celebrations,” SAG-AFTRA said in a statement. “The apparent attempt by the academy to keep our members from presenting on their own awards show is utterly outrageous and unacceptable.

“We call on the academy to cease this inappropriate action,” it concluded.

Following Kevin Hart’s departure, the Academy Awards remain without a host. With less than six weeks to go before the Feb. 24 broadcast, they appear likely to remain that way. To compensate, the film academy has apparently sought to populate the telecast with starry presenters.

The open feud with SAG-AFTRA is only the latest headache for the film academy. It is seeking to revamp this year’s Oscars telecast after ratings fell steeply last year.