The first film academy event of the season went down without even a whisper of the sex-abuse scandals currently plaguing Hollywood elites.
The academy held its ninth annual Governor’s Awards on Saturday night, presenting the first Oscars of the upcoming awards season to four film-industry veterans and one virtual reality project, reported Page Six.
It was a night of classic Hollywood shmoozing and celebration with a star-studded guest list of excited Oscar hopefuls.
But through the whole night not a single person mentioned the sexual assault scandals that has entranced the industry since allegations came to light in October about the now disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
In fact, one of the five awards given out was done so by Dustin Hoffman, who himself was accused of sexually harassing an intern in 1985.
Dustin Hoffman, who earlier this month was accused of sexually harassing an intern in 1985, handed out an honorary Oscar at Saturday nights event
The untelevised, private event was filled with A-List celebrities including Angelina Jolie, but not a single person made reference to the sexual abuse scandals that are plaguing Hollywood
Saturday night was the Academy’s ninth annual Governor’s Awards. Pictured are (bottom row, left to right) Agnes Varda, Owen Roizman, Donald Sutherland, (top row, left to right) Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and Charles Burnett
Saturday night was a classic Hollywood event shmoozing and celebration with a star-studded guest list of excited Oscar hopefuls. Pictured is Steven Spielberg, who gave a speech onstage at the event, where people seemed to make a conscious effort to avoid speaking about the sex scandals currently plaguing the industry
The sexual abuse scandals have entranced the industry since allegations came to light in October about the now disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein (pictured outside of his home with security on October 6, just after the allegations broke
Since hundreds of women came forward to accuse Weinstein of sexual assault or harassment, others have garnered the courage to share stories about similar experiences they had.
Now, several high-profile men are cast in an eerie spotlight, including Kevin Spacey, Louis CK and James Toback.
But none of the A-list celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lawrence or Emma Stone uttered a peep about these allegations of sexual abuse and assault.
Jolie and Lawrence were two of the celebrities there who were chosen to give awards to industry veterans.
Because both are incredibly outspoken about a number of social and political issues, the audience was likely anticipating a comment on the abuse scandal infecting the industry.
And yet, neither said a word.
And Owen Roizman (pictured right), who has been nominated for five Academy Awards during his career in Hollywood, received an honorary Oscar from Dustin Hoffman (left). Hoffman, who apologized earlier this month to a former intern who says he sexually harassed her in 1985, praised the cinematographer for his integrity on and off screen, according to Page Six
Filmmaker Anges Varda was introduced to the stage by four talented women, including Angelina Jolie and Jessica Chastain. After receiving her award Varda danced around the stage gleefully with Jolie
Donald Sutherland accepted an award from Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Lawrence, who called him ‘magic’. Lawrence is notoriously outspoken about her political and social opions, so it was a surprise that she didn’t make a single reference to the abuse allegations sweeping the industry
One of the five awards was given to Owen Roizman, who has been nominated for five Academy Awards during his career in Hollywood.
He was handed the honorary Oscar from Dustin Hoffman, who issued a public apology earlier this month to a former intern who says he sexually harassed her in 1985.
Ironically, Hoffman praised the cinematographer for his integrity on and off screen, according to Page Six.
As he accepted his award, Roizman’s eyes were misty.
Filmmaker Anges Varda was introduced to the stage by four talented women, including Angelina Jolie and Jessica Chastain.
The 89-year-old danced onstage with Jolie and gleefully twirled her scarf after accepting her award.
Writer and director Charles Burnett accepted an award from two filmmakers and two actors, who all said they were moved by his work because he made their lives visible.
Burnett has spent his career telling the stories of the African-American experience, and he said in his thank you speech that getting the Oscar eases the sting of a teacher’s criticism decades ago.
He remembered a teacher in junior high once told him he’d amount to nothing, and said that if the man is still around, he hopes he reads the trades.
Burnett has spent his career telling the stories of the African-American experience, and he said in his thank you speech that getting the Oscar eases the sting of a teacher’s criticism decades ago
Gonzalez Inarritu, pictured was given a special Oscar for a vitual reality project he developed with icnematographer Emmanuel Luzbeki, called ‘Carne y Arena’
The five honorees are pictured with their awards after the show. Pictured are (bottom row, left to right) Agnes Varda, Owen Roizman, Donald Sutherland, (top row, left to right) Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and Charles Burnett
And Donald Sutherland accepted an award from Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Lawrence, who called him ‘magic’.
He said he wishes he could thank the characters he’s portrayed over the years.
Gonzalez Inarritu was given a special Oscar for a vitual reality project he developed with icnematographer Emmanuel Luzbeki, called ‘Carne y Arena.’
The project simulates immigrants’ experiences crossing the deserts of the American West, and is currently up at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Inarritu said he wants to dedicate the award to immigrants all over the world.