OSCARS: The Academy Awards are expected to be another platform for celebrities within the entertainment industry to take a stand against sexual misconduct.
By Chloe Vega, Staff Writer
In light of the sexual harassment and assault cases uncovered in the past year, the importance of speaking out against harassment has been launched into the spotlight, finding a safe place within the confines of the celebrity men and women of our generation. Recently, award shows have been ideal events to call to action the victims of harassment and assault.
The Golden Globes sparked the flame of the #MeToo movement, where individuals speaking out against sexual misconduct donned all black attire and delivered passionate speeches regarding the importance of having a voice. Since then, many celebrities have been taking a stand and displaying their support for the movement, most commonly through sharing their stories through social media site Twitter, and on stage at awards shows. For the Oscars, it is expected to be no different.
On the morning of Wednesday, February 28, it was discovered that conservative street artist by the alias of “Sabo” left his mark on three different billboards around Hollywood. He covered the preexisting advertisements with large red clothes, on which read “And the Oscar for biggest pedophile goes to…,” “We all knew and still no arrests,” and “Name names on stage or shut the hell up!” According to Paul Bond in his Hollywood Reporter article “Street Artist Erects Three Billboards Over Hollywood: ‘Oscar for Biggest Pedophile Goes to …’” Sabo erected the three art pieces “with a nod to the Oscar-nominated Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” in regards to the billboards being “Reminiscent of the signage in the Martin McDonagh film, which is up for seven Oscars including best picture.”
But that’s not the only thing tying The Oscars to the fight against sexual misconduct. Recently, sexual harassment allegations against Ryan Seacrest, this year’s host of The Academy Awards, have surfaced, produced by his former hair stylist from the network E! news. The stylist, Suzie Hardy, worked with Seacrest for seven years, before she spoke up against his misconduct in 2017. “The accusations included multiple incidents of Seacrest hugging Hardy while in his underwear, as well as groping and slapping Hardy’s buttocks hard enough to leave a welt hours later,” journalist Libby Hill described in her Los Angeles Times article, “Ryan Seacrest’s former stylist details alleged sexual misconduct, which he denies.” Currently, E! Has concluded their investigation, with the statement that insufficient evidence has been found in support of the accusations.
It is without a doubt that some, if not most, of the attendees at Sunday night’s awards ceremony will express even more support for victims of sexual assault, as male and female stars provide a voice for those who may not have the honor of attending such an event, let alone receive a luxury goodie bag containing pepper spray to defend themselves against sexual predators, as many celebrities that night shall.