Brie Larson: 'Room' Star Talks Oscar Moment With Casey Affleck, Defends Decision [VIDEO]
Brie Larson chose not to clap for Casey Affleck after presenting him with an Oscar a few weeks ago, and it looks like she is still confident in her decision.
Larson was cordial but noticeably not excited when presenting the Oscar to Affleck for his performance in Manchester by the Sea. There is a now-famous GIF of Larson not clapping while standing on stage with him despite many of the audience clapping and cheering for him.
The actress was asked about this decision at the premiere of her new film, Kong: Skull Island, choosing to indirectly stand by what she did.
"I think that whatever it was that I did onstage kind of spoke for itself," she told Vanity Fair, when asked about the Oscar moment. "I've said all that I need to say about that topic."
Two sexual harassment lawsuits were filed against Affleck in 2010, with two women who worked with him on his film I'm Still Here suing him for sexual misconduct on the set. The cases were settled out of court, but they took on new relevance after Affleck started winning awards for his performance in Manchester by the Sea. Actresses like Constance Wu were very upset to see an actor charged with such abuses be rewarded some of the highest honors in the industry.
Sexual harassment and abuse is also a personal issue for Larson, who has been a longtime advocate and played a sexual abuse victim in Room, for which she won an Oscar last year. She took the time after Lady Gaga's performance of "'Til It Happens to You" at last year's Oscars to hug each and every one of the survivors who appeared onstage with Gaga.
Affleck spoke about the allegations with The Boston Globe after winning his Oscar.
"I believe that any kind of mistreatment of anyone for any reason is unacceptable and abhorrent. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect in the workplace and anywhere else," he said.
